Device and Method for Treating Skin Disorders with Thermal Energy

ABSTRACT

A device and a method for thermal treatments of target material with various thermal interactions are disclosed. A preferred treatment includes at least one capacitor and thermal heat generator that provides a predetermined known quota of energy to the target surface. In particular, the launching of thermal energy quanta from various energy sources in lumps of energy quanta and leading to the treatment and healing of a variety of skin conditions are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. utility patent applicationSer. No. 11/234,771, filed on Sep. 23, 2005 and entitled “Device andMethod for Treating Skin disorders with Thermal Energy,” now U.S. Pat.No. 8,313,480, which claims priority benefit of provisional applicationNos. 60/615,510 filed on Oct. 2, 2004, 60/678,968 filed on May 9, 2005,and 60/704,602 filed on Aug. 1, 2005. The contents of these relatedapplications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Skin disorders, such as acne, can be irritating and embarrassing. Themajor disease of skin associated with sebaceous follicles is acnevulgaris. This is also the most common reason for visiting adermatologist in the United States. There are many treatments, but nocures for acne. These include antibiotics (which inhibit growth of p.acnes bacteria which play a role in acne), retinoids such as Accutane®(isotetinoin, which reduces sebaceous gland output of sebum), andantimicrobials such as benzoyl peroxide.

Acne lesions result from the rupture of a sebaceous follicle, followedby inflammation and pus (a “whitehead”), or by accumulation of pluggedmaterial in the sebaceous follicle (a “blackhead”). This condition hastwo major requirements: (1) plugging of the upper portion of thefollicle, and (2) an increase in sebum production. The upper portion ofthe follicle, i.e., the “pore” into which sebum is secreted and which isdirectly in contact with the skin surface, is called the infundibulum. Aplug forms in the infundibulum from cells, sebum, bacteria, and otherdebris. The sebaceous gland continues to produce sebum (an oily fluid),stretching the infundibulum until either it or some lower portion of thefollicles ruptures.

In most males, acne is worst in the teenage years and then subsides, inwomen, teenage acne is often followed by menstrual acne flares well intoadulthood. It is well known in the art that both plugging of theinfundibulum and high sebaceous gland activity are necessary for an acnelesion to develop. Several methods known in the art are aimed atreducing gland activity or inhibiting bacteria. The drug Acutane isapproved by the FDA but is taken orally and has severe side effects suchas skin dryness, birth defects and sever depression. Light based methodin conjunction with cooling are used to at least partially disable thesebaceous glands. These methods too result in skin dryness due to thedamage cause to the sebaceous glands and usually require high energylevel which are potentially hazardous and require doctor-only operation.As the consequence of the relative invasiveness of the procedure,interaction with live tissue, and high laser power level needed, theinstrument are relatively expensive. Both methods require time to takeeffect and results are generally monitored over period of weeks andmonths.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore useful to have a method and a device that is relativelylow cost and effective in treating active acne condition. Such a methodand a device is contemplated by the present invention. It includes a lowpower light or electromagnetic energy source or a source of electricpower. The energy source is used to rapidly generate thermal energydeposition in the upper layers of the skin which then result in openingand dainagle of the pores. The enlarging of the pores then results indrainage of the sebum and any other liquid or debris trapped within thepores, and with them, the acne causing bacteria or any other infectiousor diseases causing components.

In particular, such devices can be hand held and constructed of lowpower photographic light bulb such as the ones used in single-use orsmall digital cameras. Other energy sources can be heating elementsincluding electrical resistors that can generate high temperatures byuse of a current or an electric heater.

Such energy source can be powered by low cost transformers or batteriesor electric line, be controlled by small electronic board and dischargetheir energy from a storage capacitor at variable discharge pulsedurations. Such an assembly can be very inexpensive and as result yieldlow cost home or consumer use device or low cost, cosmeticians,aestheticians or physician use devices.

Because energy is delivered to the uppermost layers of the skin only toallow opening of the pores, the method and the devices are very safe.(energy diffusing below the epidermal dermal junction) are not highenough to cause collateral damage.)

Because the expansion is very rapid and the drainage of the pore beginsimmediately, the response of the acne is very rapid and results can beobserved from as little as a few hours or less.

The method utilizes the principle of application of thermal energy tothe upper section of the skin such that the skin upper layers are forcedto expand (fully or partially) in a manner that results in temporaryexpansion of the pores and pore openings, thereby treating skindisorder. The method and devices envision thermal energy delivereddirectly from a source, via the mediation of a heating element capableof depositing such expansion-causing thermal energy on the surface ofthe skin. One embodiment envisions light or electromagnetic (EM) energyas the energy source for the expansion causing energy. In particular onesuch preferred embodiment envisions the use of low cost flash lamp ofthe kind used in disposable or digital (or single-use) cameras, todeposit such thermal energy in the skin. This embodiment furtherenvisions the possibility of use of an absorbing intermediate substancewhich can partially or fully absorb the EM energy to create thermalenergy deposition on the surface of the skin.

The use of such low power light source significantly reduces the cost ofthe systems, their size, and thus make such treatment devices useful forhome and consumer use. The use of a system which to a large extent usecomponents of disposable, single use, or consumer digital camera, alsoincreases safety level in a significant way (people expose themselvesand others multipmillion times a day to such energy level while takingphotographs), and thus reduces both the risk of collateral damage andunwanted damage and risk to tissue and human.

Electrical energy to heat tissue and treat skin conditions can also beused. Here however, there is a risk of over-heating, as in all case ofapplication of energy to tissue, but in addition, there is a risk ofelectric shock and electrocution. To mitigate these risks the inventionalso contemplates the use of a transport of heat from an electrical heatsource to the target tissue as well as other components to limit theamount of electric energy and heat deposited in the tissue.

The invention further contemplates a heat shuttle that is “loaded upwith thermal energy” and then delivers its thermal energy to the skin inlump quanta of thermal energy. The invention further envisions the useof an electro-optic system such as a laser, or a flash lamp with atopically applied high absorbing substance or a film capable ofabsorption of such optical energy.

More specifically, the method and apparatus described herein are alsoapplicable for treating skin conditions and skin ailments and inparticular, acne conditions. Acne lesions result from the rupture of asebaceous follicle, followed by inflammation and pus (a “whitehead”), orby accumulation of plugged material in the sebaceous follicle (a“blackhead”). The creation of this condition requires two elements: (1)plugging of the upper portion of the follicle, and (2) an increase insebum production. The upper portion of the follicle, i.e., the “pore”into which sebum is secreted and which is directly in contact with theskin surface, is called the infundibulum. A plug forms in theinfundibulum from cells, sebum, bacteria, and other debris. Thesebaceous gland continues to produce sebum (an oily fluid), stretchingthe infundibulum until either it or some lower portion of the folliclesruptures. The method and apparatus described herein, allows the skinupper layers to temporary expand under the influence of energy depositedinto this target region thus allowing treatment of the skin disordered,and in particular, acne.

The invention contemplates the use of several energy sources to achievethe acne and skin treatment effects including: optical energy,optothermal conversion of optical energy to thermal-tissue expandingenergy, electrical energy and electro-thermal conversion of electricalenergy to thermal energy and mechanical energy source. The inventionalso contemplates, an electrical energy source that heats up anintermediate material that is then brought into contact with the tissuesurface to achieve treatment and expansion. The invention alsocontemplate such electrical heated intermediate material beingdisconnected from the heat source and then brought into contact intowith the targeted tissue. Alternatively the heater source may remainconnected to the electrical source and the electrical source dischargeand deliver its energy to the tissue after said energy is converted tothermal energy in the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view taken through the handheld acne treatmentdevice that uses a light energy sources and high absorbing intermediatelayer to deliver energy into the skin.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary circuit diagram for pulsing the energy source(light, electrical, or mechanical discharge, or preferably, a flashlamp)

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view taken through the Treatment Head of ahand-held acne and skin treatment device, including light energy windowswith optional light absorbing intermediate substance, electrical heatertreatment window, and other forms of energy sources.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view taken through another embodiment of thetreatment head and high absorbing intermediate substance composition.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view taken through the handheld acne treatmentdevice that utilizes flash lamps as an energy source, reflectors, and anoptical absorber to deliver energy into the skin. Multi-lamp system isshown.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view taken through an embodiment illustratingone preferred embodiment of a handheld acne treatment device with flashlamps light source, electrical transformer source, and a high absorbingintermediate layer.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional schematic view taken through another embodimentof the hand-held acne treating device.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view taken through another embodiment oftreatment head showing both side view and a view from the bottom.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the composition and structure of thehigh absorbing intermediary layer in the handheld acne treatment device.

FIG. 10 shows a treatment head of a handheld acne treatment deviceincluding multiple-treatment heads of both light with high absorbingintermediate layer as well as optical energy alone.

FIG. 11 illustrates two other possible treatment heads configurationutilizing a variety of multiple treatment windows that can be move andreplaced within a treatment.

FIG. 11 b illustrates another exemplary circuit driving an opticaldischarge hand held acne treatment device.

FIG. 12 illustrates how the handheld acne treatment device might be usedon the skin of a human face

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the component of the enclosures of apossible embodiment of the handheld acne treatment device.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a possible circuit driving anelectrical discharge to generate an electric pulse heating of the handheld acne treatment device.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing the components of a light orelectromagnetic radiation handheld acne treatment device with possibleenergy absorbing intermediate layer.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing the components of the handheld acnetreatment device with a dispenser to allow the deliver of drug, nutrientor other elements to the skin.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing the components of the enclosures ofa possible embodiment of a skin treatment device utilizing a lightsource and a high absorbing substance being rolled up and replenished bythe motion of two rollers.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing the components of an electricalheating delivering its energy to the skin through the intermediate useof a movable heat carrier.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view showing the components of an electricalheating delivering its energy to the skin through the intermediate useof a movable heat carrier further comprising the use of a shutter.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing the component of a light basedhandheld acne treatment device utilizing motor-driven mirror scanningand shutter operation.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view showing the components of the enclosures ofa possible embodiment of a skin treatment device utilizing a lightsource and a high absorbing substance of various pattern and variousdegrees of transmission being rolled up and replenished by the motion oftwo rollers.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view showing the component of an electric heatingtransport heat shuttle with disposable shuttle units.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view showing possible components of a heattransporter heat shuttle.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view showing possible components of an opticallight or flash lamps handheld acne treatment device.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view showing possible components of an electricalheat handheld acne treatment device.

FIG. 26 is a sectional view showing possible components of an electricaland light thermal energy generator handheld acne treatment device.

FIG. 27 is sectional view showing another possible componentconfiguration of an electrical and light thermal energy generatorhandheld acne treatment device.

FIG. 28 is a sectional view showing possible components of a light orflash-lamp, or electromagnetic energy source handheld acne treatmentdevice with a removable element of high absorbing substance.

FIG. 29 is a sectional view showing possible components of an opticallight, flash lamps, electric heater, or mechanical treatment switchabletreatment windows.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The object of this invention is to provide a device and a method fortreating skin illnesses and improving skin condition and appearance.Making use of thermal energy the invention contemplates treating skinconditions such as wrinkles, finelines, skin lesions, cysts, warts, andimproving the appearance of the skin. Yet another object of the presentinvention is to provide a low cost, safe hand held device for treatingthe outer layer of the tissue and skin without undesirable injuries tothe skin.

In particular the invention aims at treating skin conditions andenhancing the appearance of the skin by depositing sufficient amount ofenergy into the skin surface to mitigate skin ailments and also allowsexternal products to be able to better penetrate the skin surface thusenhancing skin conditions and healing the skin. Further, the inventionaims at doing the above by minimizing collateral damage to the skin.

The invention also contemplates accomplishing many of the above tasks byusing a low cost hand held devices. Such a device is designed to utilizeinexpensive components and is often powered by batteries ortransformers. It limits the amount of energy deposited to the surface ofthe skin, resulting in relatively large concentration of energy at theupper surface of the skin so that beneficial physical effects arecreated healing the skin and improving its condition, but the amount ofenergy that the device deposit into the skin is not large enough tocreate collateral or unwanted damage to the living tissue of the skin.

In one preferred embodiment, the invention envisions constructing adevice utilizing the low cost components of disposable, single use, ordigital cameras to generate light energy, converting it to heat, andthus healing the skin and improving skin conditions.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the invention contemplates a devicecomprising a casing 1200 that contains a power source 1210 (a battery ora wall-plug transformer, or a power supply or a power cord), acontrolling circuit 1220, plurality of electric energy storagecapacitors 1230, wires and connections to the treatment head 1250 wherea plurality of treatment windows 1255 may be incorporated. The Figurealso shows a layer of absorbing substance 1285 contemplated for use inthe present invention for conversion of the treatment source energy intothermal energy.

In such a preferred embodiment the device is aimed at treating acne. Inthis preferred embodiment the device utilizes a small flash lamp such asthe Perkin Elmer CGD 0013 or Perkin Elmer CGAC 2018 or Perkin Elmer BGAC3022. Such flash lamps can be powered and controlled by an electronicboard of the type shown in FIG. 2. Here, a switch 10 is turned on toactivate the device and charge a capacitor 20. When the capacitor isfully charged a lamp 30 (or LED) turns on and the circuit is ready tofire. Push button 40 is pressed to trigger the discharge of thecapacitor 20 which fires the flash lamp 50. After firing, the capacitor20 again begins to charge and after several seconds (depending onbattery and resistance) is fully charged. This circuit releases amaximum energy per pulse of ½ CV² where C is the capacitor capacitanceand V is the final voltage across the capacitor.

FIG. 3 shows a treatment head 1250 which contains a combination of thefollowing elements: a plurality of flash lamps 1260, a plurality ofelectrical heating elements 1270, a plurality of mechanical scraping orbuffing elements 1280, a plurality of suction devices 1290. Thetreatment head 1250 may contain some of the above elements. For example,it may contain only a plurality of flash lamps 1260. Or it may contain aplurality of electric treatment windows, or it may contain a combinationof both plurality of flash lamps and electric heating treatment windows.FIG. 3 also shows a plurality of partially or fully absorbing layers1285 over the light generating elements 1260 or flash lamps 1260 andbetween the light generating elements and the targeted skin area. In apreferred embodiment the absorbing layer can be placed in front of thelamp or removed from its intermediate position between the lamp windowand the surface of the skin. Furthermore, the absorption layer can bemade of the following components (see FIG. 3):

A backup layer 1310 that provides some rigidity, and a front layer ofabsorbing material 1320. The backup layer can be a transparent layer andcan be made, for example, from glass or high temperature plastic,capable of sustaining the temperature generated by the device at theabsorbing layer and without deforming or substantially deteriorated.

Alternatively, the absorbing material can be embedded or deposited orpainted on the surface of the backup transparent layer 1310 on thesurface placed against the skin. In an alternative embodiment, theabsorbing material can be made of carbon particle coated over asubstrate layer 1310. Or the absorbing particles, for example carbonparticles, can be embedded in a transparent layer, for example a layerof glass or plastic. Alternatively the glass or plastic can be etched orscratched with grooves that retain the absorbing material at itssurface. The absorbing material should be deposited close to or on thesurface of the substrate layer 1310 that is closer to the target skinsurface. Another embodiment utilizes a thin heat conducting layer, forexample a layer of metal such as gold or copper or other heat conductingmaterials, as the substrate 1310, with an absorbing layer 1320 placed onthe side which is farther away from the target skin surface and closerto the light energy source. In this embodiment, the absorbing layer 1320can be etched, painted, embedded or coated onto the metal substratelayer 1310. Alternatively the substrate layer 1310 can be machined orconditioned (e.g. with electron beam or laser beam, excimer laser beam,chemical etch, or any other method allowing the surface of a metal totrap light energy or enhanced the surface of the metal to absorb thelight energy). The light energy would be rapidly conducted towards theskin surface in contact with the metal layer 1310 on the oppositesurface of the high absorbing layers.

FIG. 4 shows a front and a side view of another preferred embodiment ofthe absorbing layer of the present invention. The absorbing layer can bemade rigid, electrically insulating with absorbing capabilities rangingfrom about 0% (full transmittance) to as much as about 100% absorption(full absorption). For example a transparent layer 35 can be attached tothe absorbing layer between the absorbing layer and the light source orlamp. Said absorbing layer can comprise for example a high temperatureglass or plastic material doped with absorbing material. Alternativelyit can comprise a metal layer capable of absorbing the flash lamps lightand also coated with an optically transparent and electricallyinsulating layer between said metal layer and the flash lamp assembly.

FIG. 4 further shows a preferred embodiment of absorbing layer possiblecomposition, wherein the high absorbing film 23 between the lamps 15 andthe skin surface is made of partially transmitting material, forexample, part of the film contains high absorbing substance 31 to absorbthe light of the lamps, while other portion 33 of the film allows atleast some of the optical energy to penetrate through to the skin. Thisconfiguration will allow part of the light energy to be converted intoheat at the skin surface and directly heat the top layers of the skin,while some of the light is allowed to propagate to deeper skin layerwhere a gradual absorption by skin cell heats up deeper skin tissue. Inaddition, some of the light that penetrates deeper skin tissue may bepreferentially absorbed by skin components (for example blood vessels,or pigmentation) that may be targeted for destruction or alteration. Thedevice in this embodiment can, therefore, serve for both skin surfacetreatment as well as targeting of deeper layers skin conditions.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a skin treatment head 10. Inthis embodiment, a single reflector 17 encloses a plurality of lamps 15thus allowing increased energy output from each reflector 17 in thetreatment head 10. In this example, each reflector has three lamps.Layer 23 is an absorbing layer.

FIG. 6 shows another preferred embodiment showing the possiblecomposition of a device for treating Acne and various other skinconditions. The encasing 510 can be made of plastic or metal or othersuitable materials and has a handle 515, for example with an approximatediameter of from about 1 cm to about 5 cm and preferably about 2.5 cm indiameter. The handle can also contain a wire connection 555 to a wallplug or a transformer 560 as shown, or a battery 550. The handle mayalso contain a control board, an off on switch, and capacitors. Thetreatment head 520 can also be made of plastic or metal material, orother suitable materials The treatment head has treatment windows 565 asdiscussed above and may also contain LED sources 520 with appropriatewavelength for example for wound healing, bio-stimulation, reduction ofacne bacteria, sterilization, skin and collagen rejuvenation, orreduction of pigmented lesions. The treatment head 525 may also comprisea laser source 530 for cosmetic and skin treatments. With appropriateselection of wavelength and intensity and optical diffraction elementssuch a laser source can be used to treat acne, skin rejuvenation,wrinkle reduction, pigmented lesion and discoloration and reduce thepresence of hair on the skin. An opto-thermal converter element 585 maybe attached or swung or placed to the front of the treatment head 525 infront of the treating window 565 to provide a surface thermalinteraction by converting light from the treatment windows 565 to heatby use of the converter 1310 and 1320 (see FIG. 3) with substancecapable of partial or complete absorption of the light from theplurality of light sources.

In another preferred embodiment the system comprises an electronic flashunits (often called photographic strobes) which based on the sameprinciples of operation whether of the subminiature variety in adisposable pocket camera, high quality 35 mm camera, compact separatehot shoe mounted unit, or the high power high performance unit found ina photo studio ‘speed light’. All of these use the triggered dischargeof an energy storage capacitor through a special flashtube filled withxenon gas at low pressure to produce a very short burst of highintensity white light. Such bursts are often on the order of amillisecond. In the present invention we contemplate a pulse durationfrom about 0.01 ms to about 1 seconds and preferably from about 0.3 msto about 0.3 seconds and most often on the order of about 1 ms to about100 ms.

The typical electronic flash consists of four parts: (1) power supply,(2) energy storage capacitor, (3) trigger circuit, and (4) flashtube.

An electronic flash works as follows:

1. The energy storage capacitor connected across the flashtube ischarged from a 300V (typical) power supply. This is either a battery orAC adapter operated inverter (pocket cameras and compact strobes) or anAC line operated supply using a power transformer or voltage doubler ortripler (high performance studio ‘speed’ lights). These are largeelectrolytic capacitors (100 to 1000+μF at 300+V) designed specificallyfor the rapid discharge needs of photoflash applications. Such rapiddischarge is suitable to the working of the present invention becausethe device converts such optical discharge into thermal energy at thesurface of the skin. Such rapid deposition allows determination of aknown quanta of energy to be deposited on the surface of the skin and aknown short deposition time. These two elements prevent excess energyfrom diffusion into deeper tissue area and unwanted collateral damage.

2. A ‘ready light’ indicates when the capacitor is fully charged. Mostmonitor the voltage on the energy storage capacitor. However, somedetect that the inverter or power supply load has decreased indicatingfull charge.

3. Normally, the flashtube remains non-conductive even when thecapacitor is fully charged.

4. A separate small capacitor (e.g., 0.1 μF) is charged from the samepower supply to generate a trigger pulse.

5. Contacts on the device shutter close at the instant the shutter isfully open. These cause the charge on the trigger capacitor to be dumpedinto the primary of a pulse transformer whose secondary is connected toa wire, strip, or the metal reflector in close proximity to theflashtube.

6. The pulse generated by this trigger (typically around 4-10 KVdepending on the size of the unit) is enough to ionize the xenon gasinside the flashtube.

7. The xenon gas suddenly becomes a low resistance and the energystorage capacitor discharges through the flashtube resulting in a shortduration brilliant white light.

The energy of each flash is roughly equal to ½*C*V² in watt-seconds(W-s) where V is the value of the energy storage capacitor's voltage andC is its capacitance. Not quite all of the energy in the capacitor isused but it is very close. The energy storage capacitor for pocketcameras is typically 100 to 400 μF at 330 V (charged to 300 V) with atypical flash energy of 10 W-s. For high power strobes, 1000 s of μF athigher voltages are common with maximum flash energies of 100 W-s ormore. Another important difference is in the cycle time. For somebattery operated devices, it may be several seconds—or much longer asthe batteries run down. Larger devices or transformer-powered devices,the speed can be a fraction of second cycle times which are common.

In some preferred embodiments the user, usually a skin care professionalor a physician, may want to be able to heat up the skin epidermis ANDdermis, beyond collagen denaturation temperature. In such cases, a rapidsuccession of light pulses may be desired. Here the inventioncontemplates using a common camera feature may be use in such cases. Forexample, the red-eye reduction feature provides a means of providing aflash twice in rapid succession.

The invention contemplates using a variety of repetition rates dependingon the needs. For consumer use, a slower repetition rate is contemplatedto avoid pulse-to-pulse thermal build up. However, in professional orphysicians use a higher repletion rate is contemplated, to allow, forexample, sufficient energy build up in the target tissue so that so thatthe epidermis is heated for example to a depth of mid reticular dermisand to a time duration that results in permanent denaturation of thecollagen, to allow skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction.

In this preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates that the mainflash would require sub-second recycle time which is not a problem if anenergy conserving flash is used. However, it would add significantadditional expense otherwise (as is the case with most cameras withbuilt in electronic flash). A separate little bulb is effective and muchcheaper.

In another preferred embodiment, an automatic exposure controlelectronic flash units may be used. Here, automatic electronic flashunits provide an optical feedback mechanism to sense the amount of lightactually reaching the targeted tissue. The flash is then aborted in midstride once the proper exposure has been made. This means that the flashduration will differ depending on exposure—typically from 1 ms at fullpower to 20 microsecond or less at lower power levels.

The invention describes a device and a method for treating a targetsurface, in particular a skin surface, and the condition of acne,comprising the steps of a) activating an energy source, b) bringing anenergy transporter element into contact with the energy source, c)allowing said energy transporter element to absorb some of the energyfrom the energy source, d) disconnecting said energy transporter andmoving it into contact with a target surface, e) allowing apredetermined amount energy from said energy transporter to betransferred to the target surface so that a desired effect is achieved.The method further envisions that the target surface is a biologicaltissue, in particular skin tissue, and the desired effect is a physical,chemical or biological effect.

The method further envisions a desired effect which is a thermal changein the target surface characteristics.

In yet another preferred embodiment, an energy source creates thermalenergy deposition on the surface of the skin to alleviate skinconditions. In further elaboration of this effect the thermal energydeposition alleviates acne conditions. It is possible to alleviate suchacne condition for example, by creating expansion of the skin surface sothat pores and pore openings are enlarged, allowing drainage of puss,sebum and other undesired material, or even the expulsion of blackheads.

The device and method described herein also envisions a preferredembodiment wherein the desired effect of the thermal expansion of theskin surface will allow opening of the skin pores so that said expansionallows at least some enhancement of material or substances to betransported across the skin barrier through spacing between various skincomponents and through the pores in the skin and the skin surface.

In yet another preferred embodiment, a device for thermal materialconditioning is envisioned, wherein said device comprises a heat sourcewhich is elevated to the desired temperature and maintained at saiddesired temperature, means to transporting said thermal energy or heat,such as a heat shuttle in contact with the heat source so that thermalenergy can diffuse from the heat source and maintain said heat shuttleat the same temperature as the heat source. The device preferably alsoincludes a trigger that allow an operator to willfully release the heatshuttle from contact with the heat source and bring it into contact withthe target treatment area so that thermal energy can flow from the heatshuttle to the targeted treatment material. The device allows said heatshuttle to maintain contact with the targeted treatment area of thetarget material for a period of time sufficient to bring the targetmaterial and the heat shuttle into thermal equilibrium so thatsubstantially no heat flows from the heat shuttle to the targetedmaterial. The heat transporter can then be removed from contact with theskin or other target surface and brought back into contact with the heatsource so that it is reloaded with thermal energy.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the transporter of thermal energyor heat shuttle is allowed to maintain contact with the targetedmaterial area for a period of time from about 0.1 microsecond to about 1second. Similarly, the heat source is allowed to deliver heat to theskin surface for a period of from about 0.1 microsecond to about 1second.

In another embodiment, the thermal energy source is allowed to deliver aquanta of energy to the surface of the skin in such a way that it bringsthe skin surface to a temperature of between about 45 degree C. and 500degree C., preferably, however, the temperature of the surface of theskin reaches between about 50 degree C. and about 350 degree C.

The invention further envisions a preferred embodiment, wherein thedevice will bring the target material surface (preferably the a skinsurface) to a temperature that results in expansion of the skin surfaceand wherein said expansion of the skin surface will result in at least a1 micrometer expansion of the pore diameter size. In another preferredembodiment, the steps described above of a device or a method fortreating skin conditions utilize an energy source which loads an energytransporter with thermal energy (and increases said transporter'stemperature to a desired temperature) then bring said energy transporterinto contact with the skin so that the thermal energy may be depositedwithin the skin (with a desired time duration and desired amount ofenergy transported within said time duration), this is repeated multipletimes at a repetition rate of between about 0.1 Hz and about 1 KHz andpreferably between 0.2 Hz and 10 Hz.

In further preferred embodiments, the device and method described aboutenvision utilizing electrical energy as an energy source. Furtherembodiment envisions the energy source as a thermal energy sourcewherein the heat source is a thermoelectric cooler. Further preferredembodiment envisions the energy transporter as a heat shuttle made ofmetal. Said metal heat transporter may also be made of a thin metalsheet of between about 1 micrometer in thickness and about 10 mm inthickness and preferably between about 70 micrometer and 400 micrometer.

Alternatively, and in a preferred embodiment, said heat source is anelectric energy source, for example, an electric wall outlet, anelectric wall outlet with a transformer, a battery, or a battery andcapacitor combination, wherein said electrical energy is brought throughthe energy transporter (for example, electric wires or metal plates)into contact with a the target surface or skin, where they depositenergy in the form of thermal energy. For example, a metal electricresistor or most materials with inherent electrical resistance may servefor such a purpose. Additionally, a thermoelectric cooler may serve toconvert electrical energy into heat with the added benefit of beingeasily switchable to cooling the target surface after the thermal energydeposition phase. Preferably said electric energy is pulsed so thatelectric energy, which is then converted to thermal energy which isdeposited into the skin surface, is also pulsed. Such pulsed energydeposition phase should last between about 0.1 microsecond and about 100seconds and preferably, between about 1 ms and about 1 seconds.

In a further version of the present invention preferred embodiment, adevice for skin conditioning comprises a heat source wherein a heatshuttle makes contact with said heat source, a console containing boththe heat source and the heat shuttle, a transfer compartment capable ofseparating the heat shuttle from the heat source. The treatment processincludes transferring the heat shuttle into contact with the targetmaterial, keeping the heat shuttle in contact with said target materialfor a predetermined period of time, and then removing the heat shuttlefrom the target material and transferring it back into contact with theheat source. The process can then be repeated multiple times.

A device is capable of repeatedly and automatically heating a targetmaterial by bringing an movable component into contact with a hightemperature source, by keeping the heat shuttle in contact with a heatsource,

-   -   a. moving the heat shuttle away from the heat source and into        contact with a target material to be heated,    -   b. maintaining contact between the heat shuttle and the target        material for a predetermined length of time,    -   c. removing the heat shuttle from the target material and        bringing it back into contact with the heat source and repeating        said steps for a predetermined period of time or a predetermined        number of repetitions. In some preferred embodiments the device        interacts with a target material which is the skin.

The device of the preferred embodiment further envisions bringing theheat transporter into contact with the skin target material for asufficiently long time to allow expansion of the skin so that at leastone skin pore expands and opens enough to allow enhanced materialtransport through said at least one skin pore. Alternatively, the heatfrom the source is allowed to be transferred into the skin for a limitedamount of time, sufficient to deposit enough thermal energy into theskin allow expansion of the skin so that at least one skin pore expandsand opens enough to allow enhanced material transport through said atleast one skin pore. In this embodiment the thermal energy source candeposit its energy either by direct transport or conduction into theskin or through the action of an intermediate heat transporter.

Further embodiment of the present invention envisions a device fortreating material conditions comprising, a thermal energy source, a heatshuttle in contact with said heat source said heat shuttle comprises abody capable of loading up with thermal energy and two latches, Onelatch is connected to a spring which tend to propels the heat shuttletowards the target material and keeps it in contact with said targetmaterial, The second heat latch is picked up (hooked to) by a rotatingmotor which propels the heat shuttle back up and brings it back intocontact with the heat source. The latch is constructed with a slop sothat the rotating motor eventually slips off it allowing the nowcompressed spring in constant contact with latch number one to propelthe heat shuttle again into the target material. The process is repeateduntil the operator stops

The above can also be envisioned wherein the role of the spring and themotor is reversed, i.e., the motor is the one pushing the heat shuttleinto the target material and the spring tends to drive the heat shuttleaway from the target material and into contact with the heat shuttle.

In further preferred embodiment, the device for material conditioningcomprises a magazine full of spring loaded individual heat transportelements (much like bullets are packed into a magazine of a automaticmachine gun or rifle magazine such as the military M 16 or Uzisubmachine gun). The heat shuttle “bullets” comprise at least thinaluminum plate to be loaded with heat energy and two latches. Thelatches should be made of non-thermally conduction material or at leasta discontinuing between metal part so that said thermal energy remainssubstantially confined to the heat shuttle. It also includes a springpushing against one latch in order to allow it to create a good thermalcontact with the heat source, a motor driving against the other latch topush the heat shuttle down away from the heat source and into contactwith the target material, a remover arm pushing the spent heat shuttles(whose thermal energy was used) away from the device and disposing ofthem), a loader arm pushing the “bullets” heat shuttles into place wherethey can be picked up by the spring loading mechanism and be pushed intocontact with the heat source.

A motor is used to drive a piston up against a spring (spring loadingmechanism). The spring discharge after a stop at the station that allowsit to load up with thermal energy. The shuttle is thus propelled by thespring towards the target material to be treated.

The amount of heat energy that was loaded up into the shuttle is finite,so the amount of heat or thermal energy that is discharged into thetarget material is finite as well. The methods and devices describedbelow contemplate incorporating various thermal energy sources toachieve the desired skin surface effect of temporary but biologicallysignificant expansion so that trans-dermal transport is possible andindeed enhanced. To achieve this effect the thermal energy source can beoptical, chemical, or electrical. In all embodiments, the source is toproduce sufficient amount of energy which is then to be delivered to theskin surface for only a limited amount of time so that no collateraldamage is to result, the expansion is temporary and does not result inany burn to the skin and the source of energy flow into the target skinis cut off at the end of a predetermined time interval so that only apredetermined amount of energy is allowed to be deposited into the skin.

Such design of these preferred embodiments in combination of therelatively slow thermal energy diffusion within the skin, allowsconcentration of sufficient energy in the upper layer of the skin toenhance transport properties but does not allow sufficient amount ofenergy to penetrate below the epidermal/dermal junction so thatsubstantially the dermis remains free of burns or any undesirableeffects.

One such preferred embodiment envisions the use of electric energy asheat source. In this case, the flow of electrons through a substancewith inherent resistance results in joule or resistive heating (one suchexample will be an electric wire, another is a hot soldering iron). Aheat shuttle can then be brought into contact with such electric-energybased heat source and then shuttle the energy into contact with thetarget material. Alternatively, said electric heat source is connecteddirectly with the target material or skin via conducting material thatserves to shuttle the heat and electric energy and the source energy iscut off after a predetermined time. For example, the source of energycan be a full charged capacitor that is connected to the skin viaconducting transporter (for example metal wires or metal plates), thecapacitor is then allowed to discharge its energy into the energytransporter that is in contact with the targeted skin surface.

Further embodiment envisions a method for Material Conditioningcomprising of: a heat source brought to a desired temperature andmaintained at that temperature, a heat shuttle (HS) maintained at thesource temperature through thermal contact with the heat source, meansto willfully trigger said heat shuttle (HS) motion so it is releasedfrom thermal contact with said heat source and is brought into thermalcontact with the targeted treatment area, allowing said heat shuttle tomaintain contact with the treatment area for a period of timesufficiently long to transfer sufficient thermal energy to the targetedregion to cause thermal expansion of the treated area and bring aboutthe desired effects including the treatment of skin conditions. Removingthe HS from contact with the targeted area and bringing it back intothermal contact with the heat source

The method above further contemplates a contact period between the heatshuttle and the treatment area is from about 0.1 ms to about 1 secondand preferably from about 1 ms to about 100 ms (In water-like materialsuch a period of 100 ms will allow thermal energy to diffuse to roughlya depth of penetration of about 300 μm). The method of further comprisesrepeating all steps at the repetition rate of between 0.1 Hz and 1 KHzand preferably at a repletion rate of between 0.2 Hz and 10 Hz. Infurther elaboration of this embodiment, the heat source is powered byelectrical heater driven by electrical energy. In yet further possibleembodiment of the present invention, the heat source is a thermoelectriccooling device (TEC) or Paltrier cooling device. Additionally, the heatshuttle can be made of thermally conducting material. In yet anotherpreferred embodiment, the heat shuttle (HS) can be made of metal.

An additional embodiment envisions the heat shuttle as made of metal ofsufficient contact area with the target material to allow reasonablework rate and preferably a contact area with the target material ofbetween about 0.2 cm2 and about 4 cm2.

In a further preferred embodiment, the method and device of the presentinvention contemplate a heat shuttle made of metal of sufficient volumeand heat capacity to allow the heat shuttle to carry thermal energysufficient to raise the temperature of the upper layers of the skin tocause the desired effect and in particular to improve or cure undesiredskin conditions. Additionally the heat shuttle (HS) may be made ofthermally conducting material in the form of a sheet with a thickness ofbetween about one micrometer and about one millimeter in thickness andpreferably between 70 micrometer and 200 micrometer, so that the desiredbiological effect is achieved.

For example, in a preferred embodiment the target material is the skinand sufficient thermal energy is delivered by the heat shuttle to thetargeted skin to cause thermal expansion of the skin in the treatedregion and opening of the pores in said skin region to allow substanceto flow in or out of at least a portion of the skin through at leastsome layers of the epidermis.

The present invention further contemplates a device for materialconditioning, and in particular for treating skin conditions,comprising:

-   -   a) A heat source;    -   b) A heat shuttle in contact with said heat source;    -   c) A console to contain both the heat source and the heat        shuttle (HS) and to ensure that neither is in thermal contact        with the target treatment area during at least part of the        device operation time;    -   d) A transfer element capable of separating the heat shuttle        from the heat source and bringing it into contact with the        target material keeping the heat shuttle, keeping the heat        shuttle in contact with said target material for a predetermined        period of time then removing the HS from the targeted material        and bringing the HS back into thermal contact with the heat        source.

This device for material conditioning should also be capable ofrepeatedly and automatically heating a target material by heating a heatshuttle (HS) by keeping it in contact with a heat source, moving saidheat shuttle away from the heat source and into contact with the targetmaterial, keeping the HS at the target material for a predeterminedperiod of time, removing the HS from the target material and bringing itback into contact with the heat source, repeating said steps at apredetermined repletion rate for a predetermined total operation timeperiod. The device of this embodiment should further comprise keepingthe heat shuttle in contact with the target material for a sufficientlylong time to allow thermal expansion of the target material. The deviceof this embodiment also contemplates that the target material is skinand the heat shuttle is kept in contact with the skin for a sufficientlylong time to allow thermal expansion of the skin and opening of thepores in said skin region to allow substance to flow in or out of atleast a portion of the skin through at least some layers of theepidermis.

The present invention further contemplates a device for materialconditioning capable of repeatedly and automatically heating a targetmaterial by heating a heat shuttle (HS) by keeping it in contact with aheat source and moving said heat shuttle away from the heat source andinto contact with the target material, keeping the HS at the targetmaterial for a predetermined period of time, removing the HS from thetarget material and bringing it back into contact with the heat source,repeating said steps at a predetermined repletion rate for apredetermined total operation time period. The present device furthercontemplates keeping the HS in contact with the target material for asufficiently long time to allow thermal expansion of the targetmaterial.

In further elaboration of this embodiments, the target material is skinand the heat shuttle is kept in contact with the skin for a sufficientlylong time to allow thermal expansion of the skin and opening of thepores in said skin region to allow substance to flow in or out of atleast a portion of the skin through at least some layers of theepidermis. The device further comprises a pump to lower the pressurewithin the device chamber and create a tighter seal to the skin. Thiswill allow: better contact with the skin, removal of debris from theskin and pores, and reduction of the amount of air within the chamber inorder to minimize heat conduction and heat removal from the HS during itpassage from the heat source to the targeted skin. This embodimentfurther envisions the device comprising generating lower pressurethrough a pump.

The present invention also contemplate coating the heat shuttle of theabove embodiments with nutrients, drugs, medications or any othersubstance that is desirable to deliver into the target surface.Furthermore, the device of any of the above embodiments contemplate suchnutrients, medications, or drugs or any other substance is applied tothe same area of the skin before, during, or after the action of theheat shuttle. The present invention further contemplates the device ofany of the above embodiments, wherein, a container and dispensercontaining and dispensing a drug or any other substance that one wishesto deliver into the target surface is attached to the heat shuttleapparatus and delivery a desirable substance before, during or after theaction and passage of the heat shuttle.

FIG. 7 illustrates the general configuration of a light-based device forskin rejuvenation. A plurality of flash lamps 15 are placed at thetreating end (treatment head) 10 of a handheld device 5. The treatmentheads deliver a predetermined amount of optical energy. The amount ofenergy is determined by the discharge energy of a plurality ofcapacitors 20 powered by an energy source 25, such as a plurality ofbatteries or any other energy source 25.

Each flash lamp 15 is placed inside a reflector 17 and its opticalenergy is absorbed and at least partially converted to thermal energy bya film 23 of high absorbing substance capable of absorbing said opticalradiation.

In another preferred embodiment illustrated by FIG. 7, said flash lamps15 can be fired sequentially to provide a staggered treatment ofdifferent area in a desired predetermined sequence.

In yet another preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an auxiliarycooling component 1252 is activated between 0.1 ms and 1 seconds andpreferably from about 1 ms to about 100 ms after the light is dischargethus allowing heat flow to the reach the dermis yet spare the epidermisfrom damage. The cooling component comprise a container 1252 which isused to contain a cooling agent such as, for example, a gas with lowevaporating temperature such as an environmentally compatible freon-likefluid. The cooling fluid is transported by a tube 1253 or other means toconduct fluid to a discharge nozzle 1254. The nozzle allow controlledtiming of the discharge of the cooling liquid that is directed towardsthe target to remove heat form the target while evaporating. Thedischarge control can be achieved, for example, with an electronic fuelinjection valve which is well known in the art.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a skin treatment head 10. Inthis embodiment, a single reflector 17 encloses a plurality of lamps 15thus allowing increased energy output from each reflector 17 in thetreatment head 10. In this example, the reflector has three lamps.

In FIG. 9 yet another preferred embodiment is shown, wherein the highabsorbing film 23 between the lamps 15 and the skin surface is made ofpartially transmitting material, for example, part of the film layercontain high absorbing substance 31 to absorb the light of the lamps,while other portion of the film 33 allow at least some of the opticalenergy through to the skin. This configuration will allow part of thelight energy to be converted into heat at the skin surface and directlyheat the top layers of the skin, while some of the light is allowed topropagate to deeper skin layer where a gradual absorption by skin cellheats up deeper skin tissue. In addition, some of the light thatpenetrates deeper skin tissue may be preferentially absorbed by skincomponents (for example blood vessels, or pigmentation) that may betargeted for destruction or alteration. The device in this embodimentcan, therefore, serve for both skin surface treatment as well astargeting of deeper layers skin conditions.

FIG. 10 shows yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.Here the treatment head contains a plurality of treatment windows 42.Some of these windows (44) consist of a flash lamp and high absorbingsubstance (HAS) configuration for opto-thermal skin surfacemodifications (OTSSM), while some of these windows (46) contain a flashlamp and a transparent window that allows deeper skin light penetrationfor direct optical energy light treatments. The two types of windows(44, 46) can be mounted on a moving mechanism 48 (for example a conveyerbelt type mechanism) in an alternating sequence (for example surfaceopto-thermal treatment window 44 followed by an optical energy treatmentwindow 46). While the window(s) closer to the skin is/are performing thetreatment, the treatment widow(s) further from the skin can be chargedfor their turn of the treatment. Following the capacitor discharge andthe treatment, the moving mechanism 48 can move the treatment windows 42closer to the skin to the back and those in the back to the front. Thetreatment can then be repeated while the windows in the back arerecharging.

FIG. 11 shows another preferred embodiment wherein the plurality oftreatment windows 42 can be made of two (507) or three (503) windows andthe treatment windows can be made of flash lamp and high absorbingsubstance (HAS) combination 52, a flash lamp/optical energy source 54,and an electric heater made of electric resistor for electro-thermalheating alone 58. Such a combination would allow, for example, short andrapid surface heating with the flash lamp/HAS combination, deep tissueheating with the flash lamp, and higher temperature longer heating withthe electric resistor.

The main structures are the stratum corneum (a plurality of dead skincell with a variable degree of adherence to the skin surface). Thestratum corneum may vary in thickness but is generally less than 20micrometer in thickness. Below the stratum corneum lies the epidermiswhich can reach as much as 150 micrometer in thickness depending on thelocation of the skin on the human body. Below the epidermal-dermaljunction lies the dermis whose thickness is in the millimeter range andcan vary considerably depending on the location on the human body. Theepidermis contains among other things, blood vessels, the nerve endingliving cells, sebaceous gland, hair shafts and the roots and matrix ofthe body hair, sweat glands, and sweat ducts. Below the epidermis lies alayer of body fat cells.

It is generally accepted today that controlled thermal damage to theupper layer of the dermis (down to as much as 300 micrometer into thedermal layer) results, following a healing process, in production of newcollagen with both improved elasticity and tightness. The presentinvention envisions a plurality of skin improvement effects by themethods of the present invention:

-   -   By depositing a controlled amount of thermal energy at the        surface and allowing said energy to flow into the upper layer of        the dermis, to achieve controlled damage to the collagen in the        upper dermal layer. Possibly a cooling element can be activated        after a predetermined time of surface heating to, remove thermal        energy from the surface of the skin, protect the surface of the        skin from a lengthy exposure to thermal energy, and reversing        the flow of thermal energy from deeper lying layers in the        dermis back to the surface;    -   By temporarily enlarging skin surface pores and allowing        cleaning of the pores and causing expulsion of unwanted debris,        dirt and contaminants in the body pores, thus resulting in        reduced pore size;    -   By temporarily enlarging skin surface pores thus allowing        nutrients, conditioner, and possibly drugs and medication to        flow into deeper layers of the skin;    -   By temporarily enlarging skin surface pores and allowing the        expulsion of harmful sebum and bacteria thus reducing the chance        for the development of acne and other sebaceous gland related        ailments;    -   By thermally damaging the surface layers of the skin followed by        flaking and removal of portion of the stratum conium, and        portion of the epidermis and dermis; By thermally damaging        vascular or pigmented component of the skin near the skin        surface (in the epidermis or upper dermis). These unwanted        damaged components will then be removed by the body as waste        products, eliminating disfiguring skin blemishes.

Table 1 shows approximated diffusion times for selected typical distancein water-like media such as the human or animal skin. For example thediffusion of heat to a distance of about 100 micrometer will requireapproximately 10 milliseconds. These diffusion times ensure that nothermal energy deposited at the surface arrives at deeper skin locationsprior to these times. Knowing these approximate diffusion times thepresent invention contemplates limiting the extent of thermal damage todeeper skin structures by terminating the action of the energy source atthe surface and possibly by introducing a skin surface cooling elementsubsequent to the thermal energy deposition such that the flow ofthermal energy is reversed back to the surface and no thermal energyreaches below a predetermined depth.

TABLE 1 Diffusion Times Z Depth Times  1 μm  1 μs 10 μm 100 μs  100 μm 10 ms  1 mm   1 secTo Calculate the energy needed to increase the temperature of a givenvolume (Volume=Area*Depth) to a temperature DT is:

C=DE/DT Ò DE=CDT

DE=C DT=c*Ro*Vol*DT

DE=c Ro A*Depth*DT

Specific heat capacity water−4.187 kJ/kgK=C

Hence DE=DT 4.2 KJ/(KG*K)

Volume=10 μm×Cm2=1E-5×1E-4 m3

Volume=1E-9 m3 Density=Kg/m3 Mass=M=1E-9 Kg =1E-6 Gram=μg With DT=100 C

DE=4.18 (kJ/Kg) 1E-9 Kg/K*100K=4.2 E-7 KJ

Hence DE=4.2 1E-7 KJ˜4 E-4J=0.4 mJ

Table 2 shows the basis for a design of a system for skin conditioningtreatment based on the thermal properties of the skin. The right columnshows the required energy to bring a volume of the skin with water-likethermal properties to an increase in temperatures (DT) shown in the leftcolumn. The calculations assume a skin volume of a centimeter square anddepths reaching those shown in the left column.

TABLE 2 Parameters (DT, DE = Energy needed Diffusion time Depth = dZ) inwater to raise and area of 1 (ms) to allow The area considered in thiscm2 and of a depth dZ, surface energy to example is about 1 cm2. ToTemperature DT (mJ) reach said depths   100 C., 10 μm depth 0.4 J 0.1 ms100 C., 100 μm 4 J 10 ms 200 C., 10 μm  0.8 J 0.1 ms 200 C., 100 μm 10 J10 ms 100 C., 200 μm 10 J 40 ms 200 C., 200 μm 20 J 40 ms 300 C., 100 μm15 J 10 ms 300 C., 200 μm 30 J 40 ms 300 C., 300 μm 45 J 90 ms

Table 3 shows the particular energy delivery times of interest in thepresent invention (ranging from about 0.1 ms to as much as about 90 ms)and corresponding to thermal diffusion depths from about 10 micrometerto about 300 micrometer well into the upper layers of the dermis. As canbe seen from the tables, the energy density contemplated by theinvention is in the range from about 0.1 J/cm² to about 50 J/Ccm²2

TABLE 3 Thermal Diffusion distance (μm) Thermal Diffusion time 10 μm 100μs = ~0.1 ms 30 μm ~1 ms 50 μm 2.5 ms 70 μm 5 ms 100 μm 10 ms 200 μm 40ms 300 μm 90 ms ~0.1 SEC

Table 4 shows the ratio of thermal expansion that would result fromraising the temperature of a water-like material by the additional levelshown in the left column. It confirms the present invention assertionthat a sufficient volumetric expansion change will result allowingopening of the pores.

TABLE 4 Volume = 10E−9 m3 = 10E+9 μm3 Thus DV/V = 700E−6 * DT @ 100 C. →DV/V = 0.07 To first approximation: DV/V ~3 DL/L DA/A ~2 DL/L Delta Temp(DT C.) DV/V (%) DL/L % of (temp increase) Expansion ratio Linearexpansion 100 7 2.3 200 14 4.7 300 21 7 400 28 9.3 20 1.4 0.5 50 3.5 1.2

FIG. 11 b shows another possible circuit diagram to pulse the flashlamp. A switch 200 is turned on to activate the device and charge thecapacitor 220. When the capacitor is fully charged a lamp 230 (or LED)turns on and the circuit is ready to fire. Push button 250 is pressed totrigger the flash lamp which discharges capacitor 220. After firing, thecapacitor 220 again begins to charge and after several seconds(depending on battery and resistance) is fully charged. This circuitreleases a maximum energy per pulse of ½CV² where C is the capacitorcapacitance and V is the final voltage across the capacitor. Byselecting appropriate values of C, and V the released energy can be keptbelow the threshold for tissue burns. The present invention can use anysuitable conventional circuit for the above firing process.

FIG. 12 shows how the present invention may be used to treat a blemishon the face. The device 1310 is turned on and then placed in contactwith the skin 1320, when in good contact and fully charged, the firebutton is pressed by the operator hand 1330 to deliver energy to theheating element which then transfer its energy to the skin. The thermalimpulse to the skin acts to open pores and accelerate clearing of theblemish.

FIG. 13 shows the components driving the skin treatment device. Theyinclude a power source 210, an electronic control board 220, a capacitor230 charged with the energy needed, a charge/fire buttons 240 and anindicator light 250 indicating that the charge cycle is completed andthe unit is ready to be used.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for the circuit needed to drive anelectric resistor energy source and transport configuration. A powersource (for example a 1.5V or 6 V battery) voltage is stepped up by avoltage inverter 330 and charges a capacitor 340. A switch 320 activatesthis process. The capacitor 340 is discharge by a push on the fireswitch 360 to heat up the electric resistor treatment head 350.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a device for treatingthe skin is contemplated, said device delivers a controlled amount ofthermal energy to tissue and comprises:

-   -   a flash lamp with an electromagnetic radiation absorbing        element,    -   a circuit to deliver a fixed amount of energy to said flash        lamp,    -   a layer of absorbing layer capable of absorbing the optical        energy discharged by the flash lamp, a component capable of        activating and triggering said circuit. Another preferred        embodiment contemplate a device for delivering a controlled        amount of thermal energy to tissue comprises an optical        absorbing element with variable transmittance properties, at        least one flash lamp, a circuit to deliver a fixed amount of        energy to said plurality of flash lamps, means to activate and        trigger circuit.

The present invention also contemplates a preferred embodiment wherein amethod for treating skin blemishes includes a trigger circuit toreleased a pre-determined amount of energy to a plurality of flashlamps, an absorbing substance capable of absorbing at least some of thelight energy and converting it to thermal energy, heating apredetermined upper layer of the skin to a temperature in excess ofabout 50° C. The method further contemplates that the layer below theepidermal dermal junction remains below 50° C.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the method contemplateskeeping the layer below the mid-reticular dermis remain below 50° C.

The present invention also contemplates the possibility of using acooling element is activated at a predetermined time subsequent to theheating of the skin to remove at least some of the thermal energy fromthe skin.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention contemplates a devicefor delivering a controlled amount of thermal energy to tissuecomprising:

-   -   an optical absorbing element with variable transmittance        properties,    -   at least one flash lamp,    -   at least one electrical heating element,    -   a circuit to deliver a fixed amount of energy to said plurality        of flash lamps, and heating elements,    -   means to activate and trigger circuit.

The above device also contemplates including an element for dispensingsubstance beneficial to skin conditioning or skin therapy is activatedfollowed the treatment allowing delivery of said substance into theskin.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention envisions a device fordelivering a controlled amount of thermal energy to tissue comprising aresistive heating element, a circuit to deliver a fixed amount of energyto said resistive heating element, means to activate and triggercircuit. This device further includes an element that preventselectrical current from reaching the treated surface. Only the heatenergy should be allowed to be transferred into the skin, but noelectrical current. This can be accomplished by coating the electricheating element with electrical insulator that prevent electric currentflow but allow at least some thermal energy flow.

The present invention further contemplates device for treating skinblemishes including applying a device with an element that can bequickly heated to temperature greater than 50° C. to the skin,triggering a circuit to release a fixed amount of energy to the heatedelement, allowing heat to conduct into the skin. The device may furthercomprise an electric insulation which is placed between the resistiveheating element and the surface of the targeted skin but which allowsthermal energy flow across it.

Further embodiment of the present invention envisions a therapeutictreatment device comprising: an incoherent electromagnetic energy sourceoperable to provide a pulsed energy output from a plurality of energysources having a spectrum of frequencies including a frequency bandwidthcapable of being absorbed by an intermediate substance; a housing withan opening, said light source being disposed in said housing, and saidhousing being suitable for being disposed adjacent to the intermediatesubstance; a variable pulse-width pulse forming circuit electricallyconnected to said light source; a reflector mounted within said housingand proximate said light source, directing its energy towards saidabsorbing intermediate substance whose absorbing characteristics rangefrom zero (completely transmitting) to infinity (completely absorbing).

The device above is contemplated to have fluence of less than about 2J/cm², and in a modification of the above, at less than about 1 J/cm².

Yet another preferred embodiment contemplates the device above with anincoherent energy source which is supplemented with a laser energydirected at the general vicinity of the treatment area before, during orafter the application of the pulsed energy output.

Yet another embodiment of the device above contemplates substantiallydepositing most of the energy of the electromagnetic source is depositedat the surface.

The device contemplated by the present invention described above alsoenvisions that substantially most of the energy of the electromagneticenergy source is deposited at the surface, resulting in expansion ofskin surface opening and discontinuities to allow at least someenhancement in the transport of material across the skin to alleviateskin conditions and ailment and to improve the look and condition of theskin.

The embodiment above may also be modified to provide a device with aplurality of energy sources, such as lamps with reflectors withelectromagnetic energy output and wherein at least one lamp energy isintercepted by a high absorbing film mounted proximate to the lampopening.

Further modification of the embodiment above envisions that said energysource is a light source, a flash lamp, or a flash lamp of the type usedin digital and disposable (single use) cameras.

Further embodiment envisions the embodiment of the device above whereinsaid energy source comprises means for providing pulses having a widthin the range of between about 0.5 microseconds and 500 millisecond andan energy density of the light on the skin of more than about 0.1 J/cm²and less than about 2 J/cm².

Further embodiment contemplates a skin treatment device wherein saidenergy source comprises means for providing a pulse in the range ofabout 0.1 milliseconds to 2000 milliseconds, whereby skin opening may beexpended to enhance transport across the skin. This device may also havean energy source comprising means for providing pulsed electromagneticenergy in the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about 1000milliseconds, and providing laser CW light radiation before, during, orafter said pulse radiation. This device may also have an energy sourcethat comprises means for providing pulsed electromagnetic energy in therange of about 0.1 millisecond and about 1000 milliseconds, andproviding laser CW light radiation before, during, or after said pulseradiation and providing lamp radiation before, during, after, and isable to heat the dermis/epidermis junction temperature to between about45° C. and 55° C.

The device may also comprise means for providing pulsed electromagneticenergy in the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about 1000milliseconds, and providing lamp radiation before, during, after, and isable to heat the dermis/epidermis junction temperature to between about45° C. and 55° C.

Yet further embodiment of the present invention envisions the energysource which comprises means for providing pulsed electromagnetic energyin the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about 1000 milliseconds, andproviding lamp radiation before, during, after, and is able to heat thedermis/epidermis junction temperature so that combined with the energydeposited in the skin by pulse EM energy source, skin conditions arealleviated including the condition of acne.

FIG. 15 shows an alternative embodiment of the handheld treatment device200.

As shown in FIG. 15, the device has a power source 210 (a wall electricoutlet, an electric transformer or a battery) that powers a circuitboard 230. The circuit board 230 is activated with power switch 220 tocharge a capacitor that stores enough energy to cause an electricdischarge in the lamps 240. The circuit will then recharge the capacitorand be ready to fire again within a fraction of a second and up to a fewseconds. In order to reduce the risk of accumulation of heat, theheating element having a high absorbing substance or other heatingelements is allowed to cool down before another heating pulse is fired.In one embodiment, a temperature sensor (e.g. thermocouple) 250 may beuse to monitor the temperature of the heating element and prevents aheating pulse until the temperature drops below a safe temperature (forexample 35° Celsius or 40° Celsius). The capacitor is discharged when afire button 260 is pushed.

In this embodiment of the present invention, flash lamps 240 are used toquickly heat a thin absorbing layer 270. A circuit board 230 can fireone or multiple lamps to control the total energy delivered to the thinabsorbing layer 270. A reflector 280 collects the light that is radiatedaway and redirects it toward the absorbing layer 270 to uniformly heatthe absorbing layer 270.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the high absorbing layerwill be heated due to the optical energy it absorbs from the flash lampsand will then quickly transfer its energy to the skin through thermalconduction into tissue. The safety of the device is enhanced by the factthat the lamps are pulsed and they deposit a predetermined, known amountof energy into the high absorbing layer. The amount of energytransferred into the skin is, of course, always smaller then the amountof energy deposited in the optically absorbing layer.

As an example, for a 100 μm thick absorbing insulator, such as a glassor plastic (capable of sustaining higher temperatures without melting)with similar thermal property, to be heated to 300° C., the energydeposited in such material layer which is initially at 30° C. isapproximately 2.5 g/cc*100e-4 cm*(270 C)*0.84 J/g/C=5.7 J/cm². If weassume heating of the thin layer occurs within a short time compared tothe thermal relaxation time, then the cooling time can be estimated fromthe thermal relaxation time. The relaxation time is approximately(100e-4/3.14)2/0.008=1.2 msec. For a 100 μm thick copper layer heated to300° C., the available energy to transfer to tissue that is at 30° C. isapproximately 9.2 J/cm². The relaxation time is approximately 8.65microseconds.

Additional embodiments of the present invention are described below: Atherapeutic treatment device comprises:

An incoherent electromagnetic energy source operable to provide a pulsedenergy output from a plurality of energy sources having a spectrum offrequencies including a frequency bandwidth capable of being absorbed byan intermediate substance;

a housing with an opening, said light source being disposed in saidhousing, and said housing being suitable for being disposed adjacent tothe intermediate substance;

a variable pulse-width pulse forming circuit electrically connected tosaid light source; a reflector mounted within said housing and proximatesaid light source, directing its energy towards said absorbingintermediate substance whose absorbing characteristics range from zero(completely transmitting) to infinity (completely absorbing).

In the device the incoherent energy source is supplemented with a laserenergy directed at the general vicinity of the treatment area before,during or after the application of the pulsed energy output.

In the device substantially most of the energy of the electromagneticenergy source is deposited at the surface resulting in expansion of skinsurface opening and discontinuities to allow at least some enhancementin the transport of material across the skin to alleviate skinconditions and ailment and to improve the look and condition of theskin.

The plurality of energy sources can be lamps with reflectors withelectromagnetic energy output and wherein at least one lamp energy isintercepted by a high absorbing film mounted proximate to the lampopening.

The energy source can be a flash lamp such as of the type used indigital and disposable (single use) cameras.

The energy source comprises means for providing pulses having a width inthe range of between about 0.5 microseconds and 500 millisecond and anenergy density of the light on the skin of more than about 0.1 J/cm² andless than about 2 J/cm².

The energy source comprises means for providing a pulse in the range ofabout 0.1 milliseconds to 2000 milliseconds, whereby skin opening may beexpended to enhance transport across the skin.

The energy source comprises means for providing pulsed electromagneticenergy in the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about 1000milliseconds, and providing laser CW light radiation before, during, orafter said pulse radiation.

Said energy source comprises means for providing pulsed electromagneticenergy in the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about 1000milliseconds, and providing laser CW light radiation before, during, orafter said pulse radiation and providing lamp radiation before, during,after, and is able to heat the dermis/epidermis junction temperature tobetween about 45 degree C. and 55 degree C.

In the device said energy source comprises means for providing pulsedelectromagnetic energy in the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about1000 milliseconds, and providing lamp radiation before, during, after,and is able to heat the dermis/epidermis junction temperature to betweenabout 45 degree C. and 55 degree C.

In the device said energy source comprises means for providing pulsedelectromagnetic energy in the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about1000 milliseconds, and providing lamp radiation before, during, after,and is able to heat the dermis/epidermis junction temperature so thatcombined with the energy deposited in the skin by pulse EM energysource, skin conditions are alleviated including the condition of acne.

In the device said light source comprises means for providing pulseshaving a width in the range of between substantially 0.05 microsecondand 1000 millisecond and an energy density of the light on the skin ofless than about 10 J/cm².

In the device said light source comprises means for providing pulseshaving a width in the range of between substantially 0.1 millisec and600 millisec and an energy density of the light on the skin of less thanabout 6 J/cm².

In the device said light source comprises means for providing pluralityof pulses having a width in the range of between substantially 0.1millisec and 600 millisec and an energy density of the light on the skinof more than 2.5 J/cm².

As shown in FIG. 16, a console 1 contains a heat source 2 and a heatshuttle 3 which can be brought into contact with the heat source. Theheat shuttle 3 has latches 4 which allow a motion promoter 8 (forexample a spring) to push it towards the skin surface or other targetsurface 5, and then subsequently to discharge the excess heat energy,back towards the heat source 2. The heat source 2 (for example andelectrical heater) contains an energy source 6 (for example, a batteryor an electrical energy source, as shown), which generates the thermalenergy within the heat source. Said thermal energy is subsequentlydelivered to the skin by means of the heat shuttle 3 or by formingcontact with the target allowing thermal energy to diffuse directly intothe skin.

FIG. 16 also shows the position of the heat shuttle 3 with respect tothe target material surface 5 and the heat source 2 (for example, awinded wire resistor or some other type of thermal energy generatingelectrical resistor), when in contact with the skin. Note the extendedform of the motion promoters 8.

As is also shown in FIG. 16, the device can also be envisioned to workin combination with a dispenser of a drug or nutrient or any othersubstance that one desires to deliver into the surface and in particularinto the skin. A container 20 carrying the desired substances can beattached to the device 30 and as the device is moved as shown by thedirection of the arrow 50. The container 20 dispenses its substancethrough a dispenser 60 which can be brought into contact with the targetsurface and in particular with the target skin. If the dispenserassembly 20 and 60 precedes the action of the HS device 30 as when themotion is in the direction of the arrow 50, then the HS device 30 actson the material to drive it into the target surface or skin. However, ifthe dispenser assembly 20 and 60 follows the action of the HS device 30as when the motion is in the direction of the arrow 40, then the HSdevice 30 acts on the target material or skin to modify said targetsurface or skin and enhance the material that is delivered subsequent tothe HS device 30 action.

In another preferred embodiment, laser source (preferably a diode withcontinuous wave (CW) emission power of about 0.5 W to about 10 W andpreferably with a CW emission power of about 1 W to about 2 W) isfocused to a line (e.g. ˜1 cm long) with a cylindrical lens.

The device comprises:

-   -   a trigger that releases a hook,    -   a hook that holds a minor that is spring loaded,    -   a spring that forces the mirror to move thus moving the line,    -   a scanned line that makes a rectangle scan of about 1 cm×1 cm in        area,    -   a small electric motor then reloads the spring/mirror to its        original position and the hook latches back on.

The trigger also releases two other safety shutters:

-   -   1. One is connected to the electrical motor and is designed to        flip open/shut a bit slower than the time it take the mirror to        do its scan.    -   2. The second is mechanical and can either be designed to close        automatically (e.g., a spring loaded one and its hook is        designed to release a spring that closes it e.g. 10 ms after the        scan begins.

Or it can be designed to remain open as long as the finger is on thetrigger. The light scans an area that is larger than the opening of thedevice. The opening of the device is design to allow only theapproximately linear and constant velocity of the scanned light through,i.e., the acceleration/deceleration portions are cut out of the openingand do not make it out of the device.

The light scans the surface of a HAS film which we call a “bullet”.

The bullet comes out of a magazine loaded with e.g. about 30 bullets. 30Bullets should be enough to cover an entire face.

The bullets in the magazine are spring loaded and come out with eachdevice trigger action.

Each trigger action also removes the old bullet (e.g. the new bulletpushes the old out) into a disposable collector.

Each bullet may be soaked with a lotion for Anti aging or wrinkletreatment, Oil of Oley, acne ointment, nutrients vitamins or any othersubstance that one may wish to deliver trans-dermally.

Alternatively, a reservoir of said desired fluids or creams to bedelivered trans-dermally into the skin or any other target surface maydispense the desired material either before, during or after the lightscanning action.

FIG. 17 illustrates yet another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the energy source 420 contained withinthe encasing 410 is a broadband emitter of energy. In yet anotherpreferred embodiment, the energy source is a source of electromagneticradiation and preferably a broadband electromagnetic radiation with aspectral range from about 350 nm to about 2000 nm and preferably fromabout 400 nm to about 1100 nm.

In a modification to this embodiment, the energy source 420 is a flashlamp, preferably a flash lamp with approximately the samecharacteristics as those of most disposable one-time use camera on theUS market. In this embodiment, such energy sources are light source withsmall flash lamp capable of illuminating a field of up to 20 feet andare powered by a 1.5-volt battery or two 1.5 volt batteries and at leastone capacitor and the electronic circuitry to discharge and recharge it.

In a preferred embodiment, a high absorbing substance (HAS) film 435 ora partially transmitting HAS film 435, which is mounted on rollers 470,is used to convert at least some of the flash lamp's energy into thermalenergy. The film is in contact with the targeted surface or skin andthus is capable of transferring said converted optical energy from theflesh lamp to the film and to the target surface or skin so that abeneficial change to the skin condition or the target surface doesoccur.

In yet another preferred embodiment said targeted HAS film is made ofdisposable material either on roller or on removable disposable caps sothat it is replaced from energy discharge to the next or from use to useor from time to time. In another preferred embodiment, the flash energysource or the entire assembly is a single use or made to be used onlyfor a few firing of the energy source and then being replaced from timeto time. Here, the light from the energy source 420 (preferably a laser)impinges on the a film (407) saturated with a substance of highabsorbance in at least one spectral band of energy radiation 330 comingout of the energy source 420. The energy beam 420 then interacts withthe film and its energy is converted into thermal energy thatsubsequently propagates into the targeted surface or skin 440. A set ofrollers 470 dispenses the disposable containing high absorbing substancefilm and collects it on the other side.

Alternatively, the film 440 can be made of a pattern of absorber regionsand transmitting regions wherein the absorbers can be made, for example,in a preferred pattern, a pattern of absorbing dot matrix or absorbinglines and the rest of the film is made of transmitting material.

FIG. 18 describes another preferred embodiment of the present invention.Here the device 30 is modified so that the motion promoter element 8 ofthe heat shuttle is a motor, preferably an electrical motor. As themotor turns, it pushes with its bar 200 on the latches 4 which in thiscase is in the shape of a wedge as shown. As the motor spins, the latch4 along with the heat shuttle is pushed downward. The latches 4 and thebar are designed to be in contact so that the motor pushes all the wayto the skin or target surface 5. When contact is made, the bar 200continues to push again the latches down so that the heat shuttle isforced into a good contact with the skin. The bar 200 at that time isjust about clearing its contact with the latches 4. The latches 4 aremade of somewhat flexible material (e.g. like a hard rubber rod) and asthe motor 8 continues to push the bar 200 again the rubber latches 4,the bar slips off the latches wedge and the latches are no longer pushedby the motor 8 and its bar 200. The heat shuttle is spring loaded with aspring 210 as shown, and is thus pulled back all the way up and backinto contact with the heating element 2. Position 212 shows the springin its extended position.

Alternatively, in another preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 19, themotor also actuates in a simultaneous motion a second bar 201 thatpushes against another wedge 203 that is connected to a shutter 230causing it to open as the heat shuttle descend. With the same mechanismutilizing the motor 8 rotational motion and the wedge 203, at somepoint, the wedge 203 is released and spring 240 pushes the shutter backto cover the target the surface. Wedge 203 can also have other shapessuch as a bar or a projection. The complete clearing of the device 30opening by the shutter is designed to happen just before the HS is aboutto make contact with the target surface or skin. As the shutter ispushed back by the spring 240 it may be utilized to push out the bottomportion of the HS 250 which is thus made to be a disposable partutilized only once in each contact. (i.e. a disposable “bullet” in thedescription above).

As shown in FIG. 20, another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention utilizes the dual push mechanism described by FIG. 20 togenerate a mechanical scan synchronized with the action of a shutter toensure safety and automated shut off.

A continuous wave laser 300 is activated when an on/off trigger 305 ispushed. The on/off trigger also opens a master shutter 307. The on/offswitch also trigger the rotation of a motor 330. Two bars 333 and 334which are attached to the motor move the minor 315 and the hedgeattached to the shutter 307. The spring 322 is compressed during themotorized wheel motion to move the mirror and once the bar 334 releasesthe minor 315, the spring 322 pushes it back to its original position.

The beam from the laser 300 bounces off the minor 310 to theswinging/scanning minor 315 and then out through the opening when theshutter 307 is swung open. In this embodiment an exemplary operation ofthe device sown in FIG. 20 utilizes a bar 334, bar 334 is pushed againstthe scanning minor 315 which is then moved (in this case upward) at thedesired rate. When the bar 334 slips off the minor (the minor edge canbe shaped as a wedge to facilitate such slippage) the mirror 315 ispushed back rapidly by a spring 322 that returns it to its originalposition. The rotational motion of the motor 330 provides a uniform scanrate for the mirror.

Simultaneously to this motion, the other bar 333, which is attached tothe motor 330, is pushed against the wedge 355 to cause a second shutter307 to be open (in the direction of the arrow 308) at a uniform rate. Asthe shutter 307 swings open it allows the scanning laser beam 309 to bemoved synchronously with the motion of the scanning minor to allow thebeam through the shutter 307 and into interaction with the targetsurface or skin 380. When the bar 333 slips off the ledge 355 theshutter 307 is rapidly pushed back by spring loading component 386forcing the shutter 307 to its close shut, thus preventing the beam fromreaching the target surface or skin 380.

As shown in FIG. 21, yet another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention pertains to opto-thermal interaction with a target surface ora skin as shown in FIG. 21. Here, the light from the energy source 300(preferably a laser) impinges on a film 435 saturated with a substanceof high absorbance in at least one spectral band of energy radiation 430coming out of the energy source 300. The energy beam 430 then interactswith the film and its energy is converted into thermal energy thatsubsequently propagates into the targeted surface or skin 440. A set ofrollers 470 dispenses a disposable film containing high absorbingsubstance film and collects it on the other side.

Alternatively, the film 435 can be made of a pattern of absorber regionsand transmitting regions wherein the absorbers can be made, for example,in a preferred pattern, a pattern of absorbing dot matrix or absorbinglines and the rest of the film is made of transmitting material.

FIG. 22 illustrates a device 30 for electro thermal surface treatment(including skin conditions such as acne) wherein the heat shuttle 3 isnow a disposable element that is stored in a magazine (or clip) 810 fullof additional disposable heat shuttles 3 (like “bullets” stored in aclip).

A spring 850 propels the “bullets” heat shuttles 3 towards the heatingelement energy source 2 where the bullets 3 are secured and kept incontact with the heat source through the force provided by a spring 820.A motion propeller 8 which can be an electric motor 8 pushes on thelatch 4, and move the heat shuttle away from the heat source and intocontact with the target surface or skin 5.

Once in contact with the target surface or skin 5, the motion promoter(e.g. an electric motor) arm 860 slips off the heat shuttle handle bar 4and no longer forces a pressure of the heat shuttle 3 on the targetsurface or skin 5. At that time, a removing mechanism consisting of aspring 830 is released and pushes the used heat shuttle 3 away from theskin as shown by the arrow 865 and into a disposed heat shuttlecollecting pouch 870.

FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary composition and construction of adisposable heat shuttle 900 as used in the preferred embodiment of FIG.22. The body of the heat shuttle 900 is made to fit around the heatsource. The body 915 of the shuttle can be made for example from aninsulating material, for example, a plastic, glass, or Teflon that arecapable of withstanding high temperature (for example up to about 400 to500 degree C.) without deformation or chemical changes to them. The body915 can also be made of metal (for example, copper, or aluminum) toallow heating of the body 915 itself and not just the active element 910at the bottom. There is at least one bar or latch 4, which is used topush the heat shuttle 900 against the heat source. At the bottom of theheat shuttle 900 there is an active element 910 for thermal energystorage and capable of contacting both the heat source for the purposeof uploading thermal energy and, subsequently, for contacting the targetsurface or skin, for the purpose of conducting its thermal energy to thetarget surface or skin and unloading its thermal energy to the targetsurface or skin. The active element 910 can be any material capable ofbeing heated by a hot body such as an electrical heater or an solderingiron. The active element 910, however, must be capable of easilyconducting its thermal energy into the target skin. Therefore the activeelement 910 is preferably made of metal such as copper, or aluminum.

FIG. 24 shows yet another preferred embodiment. Here, a housing 1005contains the entire apparatus. An energy source 1010, (for example, canbe a 1.5V AA battery or two of them) charges a capacitor 1020. Thecapacitor discharge allows a flash lamp (or other component capable ofgenerating electromagnetic energy) 1030 to emit electromagnetic energyof known amount in known time duration (these can be easily calculatedby a person skilled in the art). The generator of electromagnetic energyor flash lamp is positioned inside a lamp housing 1040. A thermo-opticalconverter 1050 then absorbs the electromagnetic energy and converts itinto heat. The thermo-optical converter 1050 can be brought close to orin contact with the skin 1070 and transmits the thermal energy to theskin. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the thermo-opticalconverter 1050 is composed of some portion that are fully transmittingof the electromagnetic energy, some portion are partially transmittingand partially absorbing the electromagnetic energy, and some portions ofthe thermo-optical converter are fully absorbing of said electromagneticenergy or flash lamp energy. The amounts of energy that are fullyabsorbed, fully transmitted, and partially transmitted and theirlocation on the thermo-optical converter 1050 surface, can be variedaccording to the desired effect and how much energy is desired at eachsurface location versus how much energy the user wish to allow topenetrate the surface and heat the surface below.

In another preferred embodiment, multiple flash lamps or electromagneticenergy generators 1030 (and their related energy sources 1010, andcapacitors 1020) are packed into a single housing 1005 to allow the userlarger area coverage or to increase total energy delivery into a desiredtreatment area. In another preferred embodiment, said multiple flashlamps or electromagnetic energy generators 1030 are willfully triggeredin a desired sequence and multiple times to create a repeatedillumination of the same electro thermal converter surface area or apattern of sequential illumination of different regions within theopto-thermal converter area or a combination of the two.

The present invention proposes and utilizes the concept of thermalenergy application to modify the skin or target surface condition toallow modification of the surface for treatment of hair folliclesconditions and sebaceous gland conditions. The idea is based on therelative expansion and forced separation of adjacent points on anelastic surface. Just like an expanding balloon, where the relativedistance with the expansion of the universe, so do the boundaries of thepores and indeed every point on the expanding skin. Each point on thesurface of the balloon is separating and increasing its distance fromits neighbor. If one draws a hair follicle opening on such a surface itis clear that said hair follicles opening boundaries are increasing insize with said expansion. Since different material increase at differentspatial rate with increase temperature (and increase thermal energy) theresult is a disruption in the bond of a plug in the pore opening of thehair follicles and the pore walls occurs. Such result allows dislodgingof the plug and enhanced drainage of the unwanted material from insidethe surface of the target material or the skin to the outside.

In another preferred embodiment, one may add a substance with highcoefficient of thermal expansion to the opening of the pore. One mayalso try to force such a substance of high thermal expansion coefficientinto the target surface opening or skin pores. Such a substance mayincrease and enhance the relative displacement of the pore opening wallswith respect to the plugging material and debris that cause theplugging.

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery thatenergy can modify skin structure in a reversible way so as to mitigatesebaceous gland caused conditions as well as cure sebaceous glanddisorders, e.g., eliminate, inhibit, or prevent occurrence orreoccurrence of the skin disorder. A preferred example of such asebaceous gland disorder is acne.

Since many undesirable skin conditions result from the blockage of theskin pores, a method for changing the skin pore size and ability totransport fluid was developed using thermal energy. Thermal energycauses material to expand. The exact extent, manner, and amount ofexpansion are dependent on the parameters of the energy applicationprocess. In addition, the extent of the collateral effect (e.g.collateral damage or nature of changes to the skin tissue or targetmaterial) is also dependent on parameters of energy application.

In its most general form, continuous application of large amount ofenergy will cause expansion of the skin or target material but saidapplied energy will also diffuse into the tissue and may cause unwanteddamage to the dermis or deeper lying structure of the target material.In one preferred embodiment of the current invention, thermal energy isapplied substantially to the surface of the material or skin in quanta.It can also be brought about via the use energy quanta loaded onto ashuttle that carries that energy from a heat source to the targetmaterial or skin

If said energy quanta is unloaded in a rapid manner, (as would be thecase for example, when a heated metal body contact the surface of theskin) its excess energy would rapidly flow into the surface of thematerial and substantially remain their for a duration which isdependent on the thermal conductive nature of the skin or targetmaterial. This action creates a pulsed heating of the skin and has theadditional advantage of predetermining the total amount of energydelivered to the skin.

With knowledge of the thermal conductivity of the skin, one cancalculate what is the amount of energy that is launched into apredetermined volume and the time-dependent characteristics of such aheating process. In one embodiment of the present invention, wecontemplate heating of the upper volume of the skin (for example, fromabout 5 μm depth and down to about 300 μm from the surface of the skin,)to a temperature of from about 30 degree centigrade and up to about 400degrees centigrade for duration of up to about 100 ms. Such a heatingrange will cause sufficient thermal expansion to allow material toenhanced material flow in and out of the skin pores.

The process can then be repeated by removing the energy transporter formthe skin and either reloading it with energy to be delivered to the skinor target material or loading a new transporting element with energy andrepeating the process.

Depending on the desired effect, the process can be repeated either insuch a way that allow dissipation of the energy that was deposited inthe skin by the preceding energy transporter, (i.e. so that thetemperature of the skin return to its normal level and all excess energyhas been dissipated) or in such a way as to built up in cumulativeenergy deposition so that beyond the spikes in energy build up there isalso average temperature increase in of the upper layers of the skin.

Such cumulative energy built up the associated temperature increase canbe useful in, for example, enhancing circulation, stimulating collagenbuild up, stimulating healing, enhancing activity and penetrating ofdrugs and substance that have beneficial effects if delivered into theskin, enhancing removal of substances that has bad influences ornegative effect on the health or well being of the skin. Such materialand sebum removal can be aided by a preceding, simultaneous or followingactions of vacuum pumps and suction devices. Such deposition can beaided by a preceding, simultaneous or subsequent substance deliveryaction such as ultrasound, electropherosis or any other devices ormethods that allow substance to be driven or pushed into the skin.

The energy quanta delivery process has the additional advantage ofpredetermining the collateral effects and collateral damage of theprocess or the device. This is the case because if no excess energy isloaded into said energy shuttle no excess damage can occur. The featuresand other details of the invention will now be more particularlydescribed and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that theparticular embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustrationand not as limitations of the invention. The principle features of thisinvention can be employed in various embodiments without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery thatthermal energy action can be used to treat sebaceous gland disorders,e.g., eliminate, remove, or prevent occurrence or reoccurrence of thesebaceous gland disorder. Examples of such sebaceous gland disordersinclude sebaceous gland hyperplasia, acne vulgaris and acne rosacea. Apreferred example of such a sebaceous gland disorder is acne.

The present invention also pertains to methods for modifying the openingto the infundibulum by applying thermal energy to the opening to theinfundibulum. A sufficient amount of the energy is deposited at thesurface of the skin to causes an expansion of the region of theinfundibulum, thereby modifying the opening to the infundibulum. In oneembodiment, the opening to the infundibulum is altered such that porepluggage will not occur, e.g., the infundibulum shape is modifiedtemporarily or permanently such that excess sebum, oils, dirt andbacteria will not cause pore pluggage to occur, resulting in a blackhead(comedon) or white head (milium). In a preferred embodiment, the openingto the infundibulum is opened.

Sebaceous glands are components of the pilosebaceous unit. They arelocated throughout the body, especially on the face and upper trunk, andproduce sebum, a lipid-rich secretion that coats the hair and theepidermal surface. Sebaceous glands are involved in the pathogenesis ofseveral diseases, the most frequent one being acne vulgaris. Acne is adisease characterized by the occlusion of follicles by plugs made out ofabnormally shed keratinocytes of the infundibulum (upper portion of thehair follicle) in the setting of excess sebum production by hyperactivesebaceous glands. Various treatment modalities for acne exist that aimin modifying the rate of sebum secretion by the sebaceous glands (e.g.,retinoids), inhibiting the bacterial overgrowth in the follicular duct(antibiotics), or decreasing the inflammation of acne lesions(anti-inflammatory agents). Most of these agents are not curative ofacne and simply control the disease by affecting one of theaforementioned pathogenic factors. Oral retinoids are a notableexception: they are potent drugs that can achieve a significant curerate for acne, but their side effect profile often limits their use.Advantages of the present invention include that treatment canpermanently or temporarily (and reversibly) alter the pilosebaceousunit, rendering it no longer susceptible to pore pluggage but withoutthe side effects associated with oral retinoids.

The term “sebaceous gland disorders” is intended to include thosesebaceous gland disorders which can be treated by the delivery ofthermal energy.

Thermal energy quanta can interact with the site of pore pluggage,inflammation, bacteria, viruses, etc. and promote, for example. Examplesof sebaceous gland disorders which can be treated by the methods of theinvention include sebaceous gland hyperplasia, acne vulgaris and acnerosacea. Of particular importance is treatment of acne by the method ofthe invention.

The term “pluggage” is intended to obstruction of the pores by thebuildup of sebum, dirt, bacteria, mites, oils, and/or cosmetics in thepore, e.g., about the infundibulum. The term “acne” is recognized butthose skilled in the art and is intended to include acne vulgaris andacne rosacea. Acne vulgaris the most common skin disease seen indermatologic practice which affects approximately 17 million people inthe United States. Its precise cause is unknown, although abnormalkeratin production with obstruction of the follicular opening, increasedproduction of sebum (lipids secreted by the androgen-sensitive sebaceousglands), proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes (anaerobic folliculardiphtheroids), follicular rupture and follicular mites (demodex) arecommonly associated with acne.

Skin conditions such as acne are believed to be caused or exacerbated byexcessive sebum flow produced by sebaceous glands most of which areadjacent to and discharge sebum into, hair follicles. Sebum is composedof keratin, fat, wax and cellular debris. Sebum forms a moist, oily,acidic film that is mildly antibacterial and antifungal and may to someextent protect the skin against drying. It is known that the bacteriawhich contribute to acne, Propionibacterium acnes or (P-acnes), grows insebum. Significant sebum flow in humans begins at puberty. This is whenacne problems generally arise.

The term “thermal interactions” (therapeutic, conditioning, orsimulative) is recognized by those skilled in the art and is intended toinclude interactions, which are due to conversion of energy into variousform of thermal energy or heat. For example, incident electromagneticenergy or light impinging upon a substance capable of absorbing suchenergy causes the absorbing substance to be energized and the materialbecomes heated. Further transmission of the energy to the targetmaterial via conduction, convection, or radioactive transfer result inthe heating of the target area, preferably selectively with asignificant temperature increase of such that unwanted material, e.g.,tissues, oils, bacteria, viruses, dirt, etc. are removed. Preferably,the target heating is such that the surrounding tissue remainsunaffected. The photothermally or thermally targeted material can alsoform biologically reactive products that further inhibits skin disorderor modify and condition the target material. Such thermal activationprocesses can involve oxidation of, for example, cell walls,extra-cellular matrix components, nuclei, etc. As a result of thermalaction, the infundibulum can be temporarily or permanently reshaped.Additionally, the process can cause cell death in the sebaceous gland,thereby decreasing production of sebum.

Thermal alteration of the follicle infundibulum requires the depositionof sufficient energy to cause local heating to temperatures capable tobring about sufficient volumetric changes in the tissue. In general,these temperatures range from about 30 degree C. to about 500 degree C.for a range of expansion of the pore opening and preferably from about50 degree C. to about 350 degree C.

The time duration of the thermal energy deposition which is sufficientto cause thermally induced changes in the blocked region of thefollicular opening, can be determined by considering the basicprinciples of thermal diffusion. If the thermal energy is deliveredwithin the thermal relaxation time for the target structure, heat flowfrom the target volume is limited during the thermal delivery time. Thepreferred thermal delivery time is therefore about equal to or less thanthe thermal relaxation time of the given target, which measured inseconds is approximately equal to the square of the target's shortestdimension measured in millimeters.

In most skin disorder treatments that involve minimizing the effect tothe non-vascular part of the skin (layers without blood vessels orcapillary) the interaction should be confined to the epidermis. If wetake the epidermal thickness to be on the order of about 100 micrometer,the thermal diffusion time is on the order of about 10 millisecond. Thethermal energy delivery phase to the skin should thus be confined toless than about 10 millisecond. As another example, the infundibulumportion of most sebaceous follicles on the face is approximately 0.3 mmin diameter and the relevant depth is also on the range of about 0.1 mmto about 0.4 mm and preferably about 0.2.mm

This corresponds approximately to a thermal relaxation time of fromabout 0.01 seconds to about 0.1 seconds (100 ms). In practice, thepresent invention contemplates thermal diffusion into the relevanttissue depth in time duration sufficient to achieve thermo-mechanicalexpansion of the skin within the heated volume. The present inventiondoes not contemplate collagen shrinkage as mean for achieving changes inthe follicular opening to the skin as in the Anderson patent.

Although thermal confinement can achieved with laser pulse energy, forexample pulses shorter than the target's thermal relaxation time, veryshort pulses cause unwanted mechanical injury, which can rupture thefollicles. The fatty acids, sebum, and bacteria present in sebaceousfollicles are extremely irritating if not contained by the follicle. Inacne vulgaris, rupture of the follicle is an event, which stimulatesinflammation to form a “pimple”, including accumulation of pus to form a“whitehead”. It is therefore desired to avoid rupture of the follicle orsebaceous gland.

The present invention offers a method for avoiding such mechanicalinjury by allowing the surface of the skin to expand like a membrane ora balloon surface. A weak location at or near the skin surface in theinfected area or pimple is the connection of the plug material to thewall of the follicle which. Thus, when the targeted surface is forced toexpand, the expansion allows separation of the plug boundaries from thewalls of the follicle opening and at least some opening between thefollicle walls and the plugging material. This, in turn allows drainageof the infected interior. The expansion of the follicle opening mayallow excess sebum, oils, dirt and bacteria to be expelled so that porepluggage will not occur, avoiding such conditions as black heads(comedon) or white heads (milium). Alternatively, a material capable ofenhanced absorption of energy may be selectively deposited only at thefollicular opening and be caused, after being activated through contactwith hot (thermal energy loaded) material, to expand and thermomechanically push the walls of the opening of the follicle allowing themto expand. Such thermal energy activated material that expand as aresult of contact with the hot item can be, for example, animal fat orany other material that has larger volume expansion coefficient than theskin (or any target surface) itself.

The calculation for a simple model of target material water-based volumeexpansion and temperature increase is illustrated below.

1) Energy needed to increase the temperature of a given volume(Volume=Area*Depth) to a temperature DT is:

C=DE/DT Ò DE=C DTDE=C DT=c*Ro*Volume*DT

DE=c Ro A*Depth*DT

Specific heat capacity water−4.187 kJ/kgK=C

Hence DE=DT×4.2 KJ/(KG*K)

Volume=10 μm×Cm²=1E-5×1E-4 m³Volume=1E-9 m³

Density=Kg/m³ Mass=M=1E-9 Kg =1E-6 Gram=μg With DT=100 C

DE=4.18 (kJ/Kg) 1E-9 Kg/K*100K=4.2 E-7 KJ

Hence DE=4.2 1E-7 KJ˜4 E-4J=0.4 mJ

Para (DT, Depth=dZ) In waterThe area considered in this example is generally about 1 cm².

DE=the energy needed to raise and area of 1 cm² and of a depth=dZ, ToTemperature DT (mJ).

Finally additional preferred embodiments are described below:

FIG. 25: The present invention contemplates a method for treating skinconditions including acne by means of generating heat at the surface ofthe skin so that skin conditions are alleviated or improved.

In one preferred embodiment an energy source M10 is caused to willfullygenerate energy that is conducted by intermediate media M20 to atreating head M30 which is in contact with the skin. Such energy sourcecan be made, for example from an electrical energy source such as abattery or an electric power supply or an electric plug. A conductingintermediate media can be made for example from electric wires and thetreating head can be made, for example from an electric resistor capableof generating heat which is then conducted to the skin. The enclosure M5may hold the entire device or the power source may be external to thecontainer M5. If the device is designed to be handheld the enclosure M5should be of a size that is easily held by the palm of the hand of evena petit operator. Thus the lateral dimension M7 of the enclosure M5should be between about 1 cm and about 7 cm and preferably between about2 cm and 4 cm. The enclosure M5 should also be ergonomically shaped foreasy use and handling by the user. The device can be designed as a handheld instrument. In this case the power source M10 may be inside theenclosure or it may external to it. If the energy source M10 iselectrical energy source such as a power supply or power outlet or wallplug, electrical wire may be used to bring the energy into the enclosureM5. If the energy source is an compact electrical source such as abattery it may be placed inside the enclosure M5.

FIG. 26 illustrates yet another preferred embodiment for treating skinconditions including acne. Here a control board M40 allows the user towillfully determine the duration and amount of energy delivered to thetreating head. The duration of the energy delivery time is generallydesigned to be between about 0.001 millisecond and about 15 seconds andpreferably between about 0.1 millisecond and about 0.5 second. Theamount of energy supplied by the energy source should be sufficient toraise the surface temperature between about 39° C. and about 400° C. andpreferably between about 50° C. and about 300° C. FIG. 26 also shows apower control button M 60 that can be switched between the off positionand different power levels, for example, low, medium and high powerlevel. FIG. 26 also shows a fire button M50 that allows triggering ofthe circuit board that in turn triggers the release of energy from theenergy source to the treatment head.

FIG. 27 shows a preferred embodiment wherein an electric source energyM10 delivered a pre-determined amount of energy through an electriccurrent via a wire M20 to a resistive heating element M80 or athermoelectric cooler M80 designed to heat and or cool (by switchingpolarity), placed at a footplate M70 which is in contact with the targettissue and preferably skin surface. Preferably the amount of energydelivered to the skin is sufficient to cause skin expansion so that skinpores expand and allow enhanced material transport across the surface,or sterilize bacteria or unwanted organisms within the tissue, or both.

Such electrical energy source should supply energy that should besufficient to raise the surface temperature to between about 39° C. andabout 400° C. and preferably between about 50° C. and about 300° C. fortime duration between about microsecond and 100 seconds and preferablybetween 1 millisecond and 2 seconds.

FIG. 28 shows yet another preferred embodiment of the present inventiondesigned to minimize charge time of the plurality of lamps. Here aplurality of batteries M410 charge a polarity of capacitors M420,mounted on a rotating plate M430. When the capacitors are rotated in thedirection of the arrow M440, a different capacitor is brought intoelectronic connection with the flash lamp M450 via the electricalcontact M460. The electronic board M400 controls the process of chargingand rotating the plate M430. An optional absorbing plate M480 can bebrought in as an intermediate media that converts the light energy intoheat and brought into contact with the skin surface. This can beaccomplished, for example, by swinging the absorbing plate on an axisM490 in and out of the lamp light pass.

In yet another preferred embodiment, FIG. 29 shows the devicecontemplated by the present invention wherein, on a rotating orstationary plate M520, a plurality of treatment heads are positioned.The treatment head can be made of a flash lamp, for example a xenonflash lamp M500 with an optional absorbing or partially absorbinginteracting layer M507 placed in front of said window. An electricalheater window M505 with an electric resistor for heating or cooling thesurface. In this case, an exemplary thermoelectric cooler can be usedfor example to heat or cool the target surface to a desired temperaturein order to open pores or sterilize. Additional, rapid electric heaterM510 can be used with an electric pulse sufficient to heat the surfaceof the target skin to a desired temperature, for a desired length oftime. (For example, heating to a temperature range between 40° C. and350° C. and preferably between about 200° C. and about 330° C., forduration of from about 0.1 ms to about 10 seconds and preferably between1 ms and 250 ms). Yet another preferred embodiment contemplatesadditional treating head made of abrasive material, carrying chemicalsolutions, or delivering vacuum suction or a stream of abrasiveparticles.

These plurality of treatment heads can be, for example, mountedcircularly on the rotating plate M520 and be rotated to deliver atreatment to the targeted surface in sequence or simultaneously. Therotation of the plate is indicated by the arrow M525. Such, heating, (byelectrical or optical means) abrasive action, applications of chemicals,and vacuum suction are directed towards opening skin pores and opening,mitigating undesirable skin conditions and skin diseases, enhancingtrans-dermal transport, and also reducing longer term skin pore sizesand enhancing the appearance of the skin. Again, the lamps, resistors,or thermo-electric coolers may be powered by capacitors M530 and anenergy source M550 or an external energy source M501, and are controlledby an electronic control board M540. The electric heater,Thermo-electric cooler, rotating motor M527 and vacuum sources may bepowered by a non-pulsing electric energy source M550 or M501.

The following embodiments are a method for treating a target surface:

The method comprises the steps of a) activating a an energy source, b)bringing an energy transporter element into contact with said heatsource, c) allowing said energy transporter element to absorb some ofthe energy from the heat source, d) disconnecting said energytransporter and moving it into contact with target surface, e) allowinga predetermined amount energy from said energy transporter to betransferred to a target surface so that a desired effect is achieved,wherein the desired effect is a physical, chemical or biological effect,or a thermal change in the target surface characteristics, or a thermalexpansion of the target surface, or a thermal expansion of the skinallowing opening of the skin pores so that said expansion allows atleast some enhancement of material transport through said skin pores.

A device for thermal material conditioning comprises:

-   -   a. a heat source elevated to the desired temperature and        maintained at said desired temperature.    -   b. a heat shuttle in contact with the heat source so that        thermal energy can diffuse from the heat source and maintain        said heat shuttle at the same temperature as the heat source.    -   c. a trigger that allow an operator to willfully released from        contact with the heat source and is delivered and brought into        contact with the target treatment area so that thermal energy        can flow from the heat shuttle to the targeted treatment        material.    -   d. allowing said heat shuttle to maintain contact with the        targeted treatment area of the target material for a period of        time sufficient to bring the target material and the heat        shuttle into thermal equilibrium so that substantially no heat        flow from the heat shuttle to the targeted material.    -   e. removing the heat shuttle from contact with the target        surface and bringing it back into a contact with the heat        source.

In the method the heat shuttle is allowed to maintain contact with thetargeted material area for a period of time from about 0.1 microsecondto about 1 second. The method further comprises bringing the targetmaterial surface to a temperature of between about 45 degrees Celsiusand 500 degrees Celsius. The method further comprises using the humanskin as a target material. The method further comprises bringing thetarget material surface to a temperature that results in expansion ofthe skin surface. The method further comprises bringing the targetmaterial surface to a temperature that results in effective increase ofpore size by at least about 1 micrometer in diameter. The method furthercomprises repeating all steps at a repetition rate of between about 0.1Hz and about 1 KHz, and preferably between 0.2 Hz and 10 Hz. In themethod the heat source is electrical source of energy. In the method theheat source is a thermoelectric cooler. In the method the heat shuttleis made of metal, such as a thin metal sheet of between about 1micrometer in thickness and about 10 mm in thickness and preferablybetween about 70 micrometer and 200 micrometer. The target material isskin.

A device for skin conditioning comprises:

-   -   a heat source    -   a heat shuttle in contact with said heat source    -   a console to contain both the heat source and the Heat shuttle    -   a transfer compartment capable of separating the heat shuttle        from the heat source, and transferring it into contact with the        target material, keeping the heat shuttle in contact with said        target material for a predetermined period of time, and then        removing the heat shuttle from the target material and        transferring it back into contact with the heat source.

A device is capable of repeatedly and automatically heating a targetmaterial by

-   -   bringing a Heat Shuttle into high temperature through by keeping        the heat shuttle in contact with a heat source,    -   moving the heat shuttle away from the heat source and into        contact with a target material to be heated,    -   maintaining contact between the heat shuttle and the target        material for a predetermined length of time,    -   removing the heat shuttle from the target material and bringing        it back into contact with the heat source and repeating said        steps for a predetermined period of time or a predetermined        number of repetitions.

In the present invention the heat shuttle is kept in contact with theskin target material for a sufficiently long time to allow expansion ofthe skin so that at least one skin pore expands and opens enough toallow enhanced material transport through said at least one skin pore.

A device for treating material conditions comprises:

-   -   a heat source,    -   a heat shuttle in contact with said heat source    -   said heat shuttle comprises a body capable of loading up evenly        with thermal energy and two latches.

One latch is connected to a spring which tend to propels the heatshuttle towards the target material and keeps it in contact with saidtarget material.

The second heat latch is picked up (hooked to) by a rotating motor whichpropels the heat shuttle back up and brings it back into contact withthe heat source.

The latch is constructed with a slop so that the rotating motoreventually slips off it allowing the now compressed spring in constantcontact with latch number one to propel the heat shuttle again into thetarget material.

The process is repeated until the operator stops.

In this embodiment the role of the spring and the motor is reversed,i.e. the motor is the one pushing the heat shuttle into the targetmaterial and the spring tends to drive the heat shuttle away from thetarget material and into contact with the heat shuttle.

A device for material conditioning comprises:

-   -   a magazine full of spring loaded individual heat shuttles (much        as in a automatic machine gun magazine),    -   said heat shuttle bullets comprise of at least thin aluminum        floor to be loaded with heat energy and two latches,    -   a spring pushing against one latch in order to allow it to        create a good thermal contact with the heat source,    -   a motor driving against the other latch to push the heat shuttle        down away from the heat source and into contact with the target        material,    -   a remover arm pushing the spent heat shuttles (whose thermal        energy was used) away from the device and disposing of them),    -   a loader arm pushing the “bullets” heat shuttles into place        where they can be picked up by the spring loading mechanism and        be pushed into contact with the heat source.

A motor is used to drive a piston up against a spring (spring loadingmechanism). The spring discharge after a stop at the station that allowsit to load up with thermal energy. The shuttle is thus propelled by thespring towards the target material to be treated.

The amount of heat energy that was loaded up into the shuttle is finite,so the amount of heat or thermal energy that is discharged into thetarget material is finite as well.

Acne Contact device for Home use and Thermal Skin Conditioning for Homeuse

Additional Embodiment are as follows:

A method for Material Conditioning comprising:

-   -   a) A heat source brought to a desired temperature and maintained        at that temperature    -   b) A Heat Shuttle (HS) maintained at the source temperature        through thermal contact with the Heat Source.    -   c) Means to willfully trigger said heat shuttle (HS) motion so        it is released from thermal contact with said heat source and is        brought into thermal contact with the targeted treatment area    -   d) Allowing said heat shuttle to maintain contact with the        treatment area for a period of time sufficiently long to        transfer sufficient thermal energy to the targeted region to        cause thermal expansion of the treated area and bring about the        desired effects including the treatment of skin conditions    -   e) Removing the HS from contact with the targeted area and        bringing it back into thermal contact with the heat source

In the method the period of contact between the heat shuttle and thetreatment area is from about 0.1 ms to about 1 second and preferablyfrom about 1 ms to about 100 ms (In water-like material such a period of100 ms will allow thermal energy to diffuse to roughly a depth ofpenetration of about 300 μm).

The method further comprises repeating all steps at the repetition rateof between 0.1 Hz and 1 KHz and preferably at a repletion rate ofbetween 0.2 Hz and 10 Hz.

In the method the heat source is powered by electrical heater driven byelectrical energy.

In the method the heat source is a thermo-electric cooling device (TEC)or Paltrier cooling device.

In the method the heat shuttle is made of metal of sufficient contactarea with the target material to allow reasonable work rate andpreferably a contact area with the target material of between about 0.2cm² and 4 cm².

In the method the heat shuttle is made of metal of sufficient volume andheat capacity to allow the heat shuttle to carry thermal energysufficient to raise the temperature of the upper layers of the skin tocause the desired effect and in particular to improve or cure undesiredskin conditions.

In the method the Heat Shuttle (HS) is made of thermally conductingmaterial in the form of a sheet with a thickness of between about onemicrometer and about one millimeter in thickness and preferably between70 micrometer and 200 micrometer.

A device for material conditioning comprises:

-   -   a heat source,    -   a heat shuttle in contact with said heat source,    -   a console to contain both the heat source and the heat shuttle        (HS) and to ensure that neither is in thermal contact with the        target treatment area during at least part of the device        operation time,    -   a transfer element capable of separating the heat shuttle from        the heat source and bringing it into contact with the target        material keeping the heat shuttle, keeping the heat shuttle in        contact with said target material for a predetermined period of        time then removing the HS from the targeted material and        bringing the HS back into thermal contact with the heat source.

The device further comprises keeping the HS in contact with the targetmaterial for a sufficiently long time to allow thermal expansion of thetarget material.

The device further comprises a pump to lower the pressure within thedevice chamber and create a tighter seal to the skin. This will allow:better contact with the skin, removal of debris from the skin and pores,and reduction of the amount of air within the chamber in order tominimize heat conduction and heat removal from the HS during it passagefrom the heat source to the targeted skin.

In the Devices of the present invention, the heat shuttle can be coatedwith drug or any other substance that is desirable to deliver into thetarget surface. A drug or any other substance can be applied to the samearea of the skin before, during, or after the action of the heatshuttle.

In the device, a container and dispenser containing and dispensing adrug or any other substance that one wishes to deliver into the targetsurface is attached to the heat shuttle apparatus and delivers adesirable substance before, during or after the action and passage ofthe heat shuttle.

A therapeutic treatment device comprises:

-   -   an incoherent electromagnetic energy source operable to provide        a pulsed energy output from a plurality of energy sources having        a spectrum of frequencies including a frequency bandwidth        capable of being absorbed by an intermediate substance;    -   a housing with an opening, said light source being disposed in        said housing, and said housing being suitable for being disposed        adjacent to the intermediate substance;    -   a variable pulse-width pulse forming circuit electrically        connected to said light source; a reflector mounted within said        housing and proximate said light source, directing its energy        towards said absorbing intermediate substance whose absorbing        characteristics range from zero (completely transmitting) to        infinity (completely absorbing), wherein the fluence is less        than 2 J/cm², preferably less than 1 J/cm².

The incoherent energy source is supplemented with a laser energydirected at the general vicinity of the treatment area before, during orafter the application of the pulsed energy output. Substantially most ofthe energy of the electromagnetic source is deposited at the surfaceresulting in expansion of skin surface opening and discontinuities toallow at least some enhancement in the transport of material across theskin to alleviate skin conditions and ailment and to improve the lookand condition of the skin. The plurality of energy sources can be lampswith reflectors with electromagnetic energy output and at least one lampenergy is intercepted by a high absorbing film mounted proximate to thelamp opening. Said energy source can be a light source, or a flash lampsuch as of the type used in digital and disposable (single use) cameras.Said energy source comprises means for providing pulses having a widthin the range of between about 0.5 microseconds and 500 millisecond andan energy density of the light on the skin of more than about 0.1 J/cm².and less than about 2 J/cm².

Said energy source comprises means for providing a pulse in the range ofabout 0.1 milliseconds to 2000 milliseconds, whereby skin opening may beexpended to enhance transport across the skin.

Said energy source comprises means for providing pulsed electromagneticenergy in the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about 1000milliseconds, and providing laser CW light radiation before, during, orafter said pulse radiation. Said energy source comprises means forproviding pulsed electromagnetic energy in the range of about 0.1millisecond and about 1000 milliseconds, and providing laser CW lightradiation before, during, or after said pulse radiation and providinglamp radiation before, during, after, and is able to heat thedermis/epidermis junction temperature to between about 45 degree C. and55 degree C. Said energy source comprises means for providing pulsedelectromagnetic energy in the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about1000 milliseconds, and providing lamp radiation before, during, after,and is able to heat the dermis/epidermis junction temperature to betweenabout 45 degree C. and 55 degree C.

Said energy source comprises means for providing pulsed electromagneticenergy in the range of about 0.1 millisecond and about 1000milliseconds, and providing lamp radiation before, during, after, and isable to heat the dermis/epidermis junction temperature so that combinedwith the energy deposited in the skin by pulse EM energy source, skinconditions are alleviated including the condition of acne.

Said light source comprises means for providing pulses having a width inthe range of between substantially 0.05 microsecond and 1000 millisecondand an energy density of the light on the skin of less than about 10J/cm².

Said light source comprises means for providing pulses having a width inthe range of between substantially 0.1 millisec and 600 millisec and anenergy density of the light on the skin of less than about 6 J/cm².

Said light source comprises means for providing plurality of pulseshaving a width in the range of between substantially 0.1 millisec and600 millisec and an energy density of the light on the skin of more than2.5 J/cm². circuit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for treating acne comprising: providinga device comprising a circuit having a capacitor, wherein the circuit isconfigured for charging a capacitor from a power source and forreleasing a pre-determined amount of energy from the capacitor, whereinthe circuit comprises a power button configured to activate charging ofthe capacitor from the power source, and the circuit further comprises adischarge button configured to activate release of the pre-determinedamount of energy from the capacitor; providing a heating elementconfigured to absorb at least some of the energy discharged from thecapacitor and converting it to thermal energy, wherein the heatingelement comprises a resistive heating element and a heat transfersurface, and wherein the heat transfer surface has an area of 0.2 cm² to4 cm²; switching the power button to activate charging of the capacitorby the power source; bringing the heat transfer surface adjacent to andagainst the skin to be treated; and switching the discharge button toactivate release of the pre-determined amount of energy from thecapacitor to the heating element to thereby heat an upper layer of theskin to a temperature in the range from 50° C. to 400° C., wherein theamount of thermal energy provided to the skin is between 0.1 J/cm² and50 J/cm².
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the layer below theepidermal dermal junction remains below 50° C.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the layer below the mid-reticular dermis remain below about 50°C.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the layer below the dermalepidermal junction remains below about 50° C., and at least some changesin the opening at the skin surface occurs.
 5. A device for treating theskin by delivering a controlled amount of energy to skin surface of apatient, comprising: an energy source configured to provide energy; atreatment head configured to convert energy from the energy source intothermal energy, wherein the treatment head comprises a footplateconfigured to be placed in contact with the skin surface, wherein thefootplate comprises an area of 0.2 cm² to 4 cm² suitable for placementagainst the skin surface an intermediate media configured to provide aconduit for the energy from the energy source to pass to the treatmenthead; a control circuit configured, when triggered, to controllablyrelease a predetermined amount of energy from said energy source to passvia the intermediate media to the treatment head; a power control buttonconfigured to switch the device from an off configuration to at leastone power level configuration; and a fire button configured to triggerthe control circuit to controllably release energy from the energysource to pass to the treatment head.
 6. The device of claim 5, whereinsaid energy from the energy source is electromagnetic energy which isconverted to thermal energy prior to interaction with the target skinsurface.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein said energy provided by theenergy source comprises electric energy, and wherein the treatment headis configured to convert the electric energy into thermal energy priorto interacting with the target skin surface.
 8. The device of claim 5,wherein the thermal energy converted from the electric energy issufficient to heat at least a portion of the treatment head to atemperature above 50 degrees Celsius.
 9. The device of claim 5, whereinthe treatment head comprises a resistive heating element configured toconvert the electric energy into thermal energy.
 10. The device of claim9, further comprising: a temperature sensor configured to monitor thetemperature of the treatment head; wherein the control circuit isconfigured to prevent energy to pass from the energy source to thetreatment head when the temperature sensor senses a temperature higherthan a selected temperature value.
 11. A device for treating human skin,comprising: a hand-held enclosure; a heating element; a heatingapparatus configured to rapidly heat the heating element, the heatingapparatus comprising an energy source and at least one capacitor,wherein the energy source is configured to charge the at least onecapacitor, and the at least one capacitor is configured to store energyto rapidly heat the heating element to a predetermined temperature; anda control circuit configured to control said heating apparatus such thatthe at least one capacitor releases the energy in a single pulse to theheating element and the heating element is rapidly heated to thepredetermined temperature, wherein the predetermined temperature isgreater than 50 degrees Celsius.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe predetermined temperature is between about 100 degrees Celsius and400 degrees Celsius.
 13. The device of claim 11, further comprising: acharge button configured to activate the energy source to charge the atleast one capacitor; a fire button configured to activate release ofenergy from the at least one capacitor to the heating element; and acharge indicator configured to indicate when the energy source hascharged the at least one capacitor with sufficient energy to rapidlyheat the heating element to the predetermined temperature.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the control circuit comprises a circuitboard and a temperature sensor, and wherein the control circuit isconfigured to prevent the heating element from being reheated until theheating element cools below a set temperature.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein the set temperature is 40 degrees Celsius.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the control circuit limits the totalthermal energy transferred to the skin to between 0.5 J/cm² and 50J/cm².
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wherein the heatingelement comprises a resistive heating element and a heat transfersurface, and wherein the heat transfer surface has an area of 0.2 cm² to4 cm², wherein the heat transfer surface is configured to be placedagainst the skin surface.